Neerja Bhanot
Encyclopedia
Neerja Bhanot
(September 7, 1963 – September 5, 1986 ), was a flight attendant
for Pan Am airlines, based in Bombay, India
, who died while saving passengers from terrorists on board the hijacked Pan Am Flight 73
on September 5, 1986, she went on to become the youngest recipient of India’s highest civilian award for bravery, the Ashoka Chakra
.
, born in Chandigarh
, India
, was the daughter of Rama Bhanot and Harish Bhanot, a Mumbai based journalist. She was an alumnus
of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh, Bombay Scottish School and St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
Neerja had an arranged marriage in March, 1985 and joined her husband in the Gulf. However, the marriage turned sour following dowry pressure and she returned to her parents' home in Mumbai
within two months. Subsequently, she applied for a flight attendant’s job with Pan Am Airline, and upon selection, went to Miami for training as a flight attendant but returned as purser.
, hijacked after it landed at Karachi at 5 am from Mumbai by four heavily armed terrorists. PA 73 was en route to Frankfurt and onward to New York City . Neerja alerted the cockpit crew about the hijack and, as the plane was on the tarmac, the three-member cockpit crew of pilot, co-pilot and the flight engineer were able to flee from the aircraft. Neerja, being the senior-most cabin crew member on board took on the mantle of leadership in a cool, calm, confident manner.
The hijackers were part of the Abu Nidal Group and as they were allegedly backed by Libya, they were seeking to kill Americans in revenge for the American bombing of Tripoli a few months earlier. They immediately shot dead a passenger who identified himself to the terrorists as being an American. The terrorists, then, instructed Neerja to get the passports collected of all the passengers, so that they could identify the Americans. In a daring act of compassion, Neerja and the other attendants under her charge, hid the passports of the 18 Americans on board and this, in all probability, saved their lives.Indeed, if the terrorists had come to know of this act of Neerja, they would have surely killed her there and then.
After 17 hours, the hijackers opened fire and set off explosives. Acting quickly, Neerja opened the emergency door and helped a number of passengers escape. If she wanted, she could have been the first to jump out of the aircraft and escape.However, she did not and gave her own life while shielding 3 children from a hail of bullets. Neerja was recognised internationally as "the heroine of the hijack" and is the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest civilian award for bravery.
In 2001, Zayd Hassan Abd Al-Latif Masud Al Safarini, the hijacker who shot the passengers was captured by FBI in Bangkok after being released by Pakistan. In the US, he is presently serving 160 years prison term in Colorado. Four others were freed from Pakistan's Adiala Jail in January 2008. The FBI has announced a $5 million bounty on their head.
Pakistani intelligence officials announced that one of the hijackers, Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim was killed in North Waziristan tribal region in a US missile attack on 9 January 2010. As per the FBI website he was a Palestinian with possible Lebanese citizenship. ( Sunday Times of India, 17 January 2010 )
posthumously awarded her the Ashoka Chakra
(India's highest decoration for gallantry away from the battlefield, or not in the face of the enemy), being its youngest recipient. In 2004 the Indian Postal Service
released a stamp commemorating her.
With the money from the insurance settlement and an equal contribution from Pan Am, Neerja's parents set up the 'Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust'. The trust presents two awards every year, one for a flight crew member, worldwide, who actsan beyond the call of duty and another to Indian woman who, when faced with social injustice like dowry, desertion etc. overcomes it with guts and grit AND then helps other women in similar social distress. The award includes a sum of INR 1,50,000, a trophy and a citation.
Neerja's brother Aneesh Bhanot went to Washington DC, in 2005 to receive the 'Justice for Crimes Award' awarded posthumously to Neerja as part of the 'Annual Crime Rights Week', at a ceremony held at the United States Attorney's office for the District of Columbia. In 2006, she and the other Pan Am Flight 73 flight attendants and Pan Am's flight director for Pakistan were awarded the Special Courage award by the US Department of Justice.
A square called Neerja Bhanot Chowk is named after her in Mumbai's Ghatkopar (east) suburb by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation.
The civil aviation ministry of India conferred an honor on Neerja Bhanot posthumously on February 18, 2010 in New Delhi on the occasion of the launch of the celebrations of the centenary of Indian Aviation.
Bhanot
Bhanot is a sub-caste of Brahmins in Punjab, India....
(September 7, 1963 – September 5, 1986 ), was a flight attendant
Flight attendant
Flight attendants or cabin crew are members of an aircrew employed by airlines primarily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers aboard commercial flights, on select business jet aircraft, and on some military aircraft.-History:The role of a flight attendant derives from that of similar...
for Pan Am airlines, based in Bombay, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, who died while saving passengers from terrorists on board the hijacked Pan Am Flight 73
Pan Am Flight 73
Pan Am Flight 73, a Pan American World Airways Boeing 747-121, was hijacked on September 5, 1986, while on the ground at Karachi, Pakistan, by four armed men of the Abu Nidal Organization...
on September 5, 1986, she went on to become the youngest recipient of India’s highest civilian award for bravery, the Ashoka Chakra
Ashoka Chakra Award
The Ashok Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other...
.
Early life, education and marriage
Neerja BhanotBhanot
Bhanot is a sub-caste of Brahmins in Punjab, India....
, born in Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, was the daughter of Rama Bhanot and Harish Bhanot, a Mumbai based journalist. She was an alumnus
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh, Bombay Scottish School and St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
Neerja had an arranged marriage in March, 1985 and joined her husband in the Gulf. However, the marriage turned sour following dowry pressure and she returned to her parents' home in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
within two months. Subsequently, she applied for a flight attendant’s job with Pan Am Airline, and upon selection, went to Miami for training as a flight attendant but returned as purser.
Career
Neerja Bhanot was the senior flight purser on the ill-fated Pan Am Flight 73Pan Am Flight 73
Pan Am Flight 73, a Pan American World Airways Boeing 747-121, was hijacked on September 5, 1986, while on the ground at Karachi, Pakistan, by four armed men of the Abu Nidal Organization...
, hijacked after it landed at Karachi at 5 am from Mumbai by four heavily armed terrorists. PA 73 was en route to Frankfurt and onward to New York City . Neerja alerted the cockpit crew about the hijack and, as the plane was on the tarmac, the three-member cockpit crew of pilot, co-pilot and the flight engineer were able to flee from the aircraft. Neerja, being the senior-most cabin crew member on board took on the mantle of leadership in a cool, calm, confident manner.
The hijackers were part of the Abu Nidal Group and as they were allegedly backed by Libya, they were seeking to kill Americans in revenge for the American bombing of Tripoli a few months earlier. They immediately shot dead a passenger who identified himself to the terrorists as being an American. The terrorists, then, instructed Neerja to get the passports collected of all the passengers, so that they could identify the Americans. In a daring act of compassion, Neerja and the other attendants under her charge, hid the passports of the 18 Americans on board and this, in all probability, saved their lives.Indeed, if the terrorists had come to know of this act of Neerja, they would have surely killed her there and then.
After 17 hours, the hijackers opened fire and set off explosives. Acting quickly, Neerja opened the emergency door and helped a number of passengers escape. If she wanted, she could have been the first to jump out of the aircraft and escape.However, she did not and gave her own life while shielding 3 children from a hail of bullets. Neerja was recognised internationally as "the heroine of the hijack" and is the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest civilian award for bravery.
Her killers
The hijackers, who were Palestinians said to be from the Abu Nidal Organisation were captured by Pakistan, tried, convicted and sentenced to death in 1988 but later commuted to life in prison.In 2001, Zayd Hassan Abd Al-Latif Masud Al Safarini, the hijacker who shot the passengers was captured by FBI in Bangkok after being released by Pakistan. In the US, he is presently serving 160 years prison term in Colorado. Four others were freed from Pakistan's Adiala Jail in January 2008. The FBI has announced a $5 million bounty on their head.
Pakistani intelligence officials announced that one of the hijackers, Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim was killed in North Waziristan tribal region in a US missile attack on 9 January 2010. As per the FBI website he was a Palestinian with possible Lebanese citizenship. ( Sunday Times of India, 17 January 2010 )
After death
For her bravery the Government of IndiaGovernment of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
posthumously awarded her the Ashoka Chakra
Ashoka Chakra Award
The Ashok Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other...
(India's highest decoration for gallantry away from the battlefield, or not in the face of the enemy), being its youngest recipient. In 2004 the Indian Postal Service
Indian Postal Service
The Department of Posts functioning under the brand name India Post , is a government operated postal system in India; it is generally referred to within India as "the post office"....
released a stamp commemorating her.
With the money from the insurance settlement and an equal contribution from Pan Am, Neerja's parents set up the 'Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust'. The trust presents two awards every year, one for a flight crew member, worldwide, who actsan beyond the call of duty and another to Indian woman who, when faced with social injustice like dowry, desertion etc. overcomes it with guts and grit AND then helps other women in similar social distress. The award includes a sum of INR 1,50,000, a trophy and a citation.
Neerja's brother Aneesh Bhanot went to Washington DC, in 2005 to receive the 'Justice for Crimes Award' awarded posthumously to Neerja as part of the 'Annual Crime Rights Week', at a ceremony held at the United States Attorney's office for the District of Columbia. In 2006, she and the other Pan Am Flight 73 flight attendants and Pan Am's flight director for Pakistan were awarded the Special Courage award by the US Department of Justice.
A square called Neerja Bhanot Chowk is named after her in Mumbai's Ghatkopar (east) suburb by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation.
The civil aviation ministry of India conferred an honor on Neerja Bhanot posthumously on February 18, 2010 in New Delhi on the occasion of the launch of the celebrations of the centenary of Indian Aviation.
Family
Neerja has two brothers, Akhil and Aneesh . Her father, Harish Bhanot, a veteran journalist with The Hindustan Times served for over 30 years, first at Chandigarh and later in Mumbai, died on Jan 01, 2008 in Chandigarh at the age of 86.Awards
- Flight Safety FoundationFlight Safety FoundationFlight Safety Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, international organization dedicated to research, education, advocacy and publishing in the field of air safety. FSF brings together aviation professionals from all the sectors to help solve safety problems facing the industry...
Heroism Award, U.S.A. - Ashoka Chakra AwardAshoka Chakra AwardThe Ashok Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... - Tamgha-e-Insaaniyat (Awarded for showing incredibly human kindness) , PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
- Justice for Crimes Award, United States AttorneyUnited States AttorneyUnited States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
’s office for the District of Columbia - Special Courage award, US Govt.
- Indian Civil Aviation Ministry's Award
External links
- The Tribune - information on the trial of Bhanot's killer