26/01/2017
Ashok Chakra Recipient..Neerja Bhanot
Neerja Bhanot, daughter of Shri Harish Bhanot was born on 7 September 1963, in Chandigarh. She did her early schooling at Sacred Heart, Chandigarh before going to Mumbai where she studied at Bombay Scottish and St. Xavier’s College. She joined the Pan American World Airways on January 16, 1986. Her leadership qualities were quickly recognised and she was elevated to the position of ‘Purser’ on April 1, 1986. On September 5, 1986, Neerja Bhanot was in the Pan American Airways flight from Bombay to New York via Karachi as Senior Flight Purser, when the plane was hijacked at Karachi Airport by four heavily armed hijackers. Nearly 400 passengers and crew members, were held at gunpoint for over 17 hours.
Showing exemplary courage, she identified herself to the terrorists as the crew member in charge of the aircraft. She also comforted the passengers, especially the elderly and small children.
When it became apparent that the hijackers wanted to execute Americans, she hid their passports.
At the end, the hijackers opened fire and set of explosives. Acting quickly, Neerja opened the emergency doors and helped a number of passengers to escape. While shielding three children from a hail of bullets, she was fatally wounded by the gunfire. She laid down her life displaying the most conspicuous bravery in the face of grave adversity.
She is the only Indian to have been conferred with the ‘Heroism Award of the Flight Safety Foundation’.
