Neerja Bhanot was a flight attendant. In 1986 terrorists hijacked her aircraft at Karachi. She helped to save the lives of hundreds of passengers and was killed. She got the Ashoka Chakra after her death, the first woman to get it.

Act of valour

On 5 September 1986, four armed men took control of Pan Am Flight 73 at Karachi airport, Pakistan. The flight attendants told the pilots, and the pilots left the aircraft through a hatch. Without pilots, the aircraft could not fly.

The hijackers wanted to find and kill American passengers. Neerja and the other flight attendants hid the passports of the passengers. After about 16 hours, the hijackers fired on the passengers. The flight attendants opened the emergency exits and helped the passengers to escape. Neerja was shot and killed while she helped the passengers. (U.S. Department of Justice)

Awards

  • Ashoka Chakra (1987, posthumous). This is the highest peacetime gallantry award of India. She was the first woman and the youngest person to get it.
  • Tamgha-e-Insaniyat, Government of Pakistan.
  • Special Courage Award (2006), U.S. Department of Justice, with the other flight attendants. (U.S. Department of Justice)
  • Heroism Award (1987), Flight Safety Foundation. (Flight Safety Foundation)

Memorials

  • A postage stamp of India Post (2004).

Sources