PANAM—73:
1986 : PAKISTAN
SARASIJ
MAJUMDER
THE INCIDENT
In the early morning hours of September 5, 1986, a Pan Am
flight carrying 365 passengers from Pakistan to Germany was hijacked by four
Palestinian terrorists. After about 40 minutes from the landing of Flight
73, the airliner came under the control of the hijackers. The four hijackers
were dressed as Karachi airport security guards and were armed with
assault rifles, pistols, grenades, and plastic explosive belts. As the
hijackers boarded the plane and demanded passage to Cyprus, the flight crew was
forced to act quickly. The senior air hostess, 22-year-old Neerja Bhanot, an
INDIAN, swiftly punched in the code for "hijacking" over the
intercom, which allowed the pilots to escape from the cockpit unscathed and the
plane got immobilized on the ground at
Karachi Air Port.
The HIJACKERS were linked to the Abū Niḍāl Organization.
And then the PANDEMONIUM started.
Over the next 17 hours, Bhanot bravely put her life on the
line to save others again and again. When the terrorists demanded the passports
of American passengers, presumably to single them out for execution, Bhanot hid
their documents, flushing them down the toilet or hiding them under seat
cushions. And when the ordeal came to a head and the hijackers began shooting
indiscriminately into the aisles, Bhanot flung open the emergency door,
allowing hundreds of passengers to jump to safety. Her Final instruction was—“ JUMP OUT, RUN…”
She
stayed behind to shield three American children from gunfire — and was killed
in the process.
A 17-hour
standoff at Jinnah International Airport in
Karachi ended with 22 hostages
dead and about 150 injured.
PANAM stopped operation from 1991.
BACKGROUND OF NEERAJA
1. Born
to Rama Bhanot and Harish Bhanot in Chandigarh, Neerja Bhanot was first spotted
by a magazine at the age of 16. Her beauty and talent led her to become a
supermodel. She was featured in many advertisements.
2. Neerja
tied the knot in 1985 and moved to Gulf. But the marriage didn’t work out and
she returned to her parent’s home in Mumbai within a couple of months.
3. Her
family members lovingly called her ‘Laado’. Indeed, she proved to be a
favourite of all by her heroic act.
4. Neerja
applied for the position of a flight attendant with Pan Am. She went to Miami
for training and successfully returned.
5.
She was promoted as a purser (chief
flight attendant), for her leadership qualities.
6. The
hijackers of Pan Am Flight 73 asked Neerja to collect the passports of all the
passengers so that they could identify the Americans for making HOSTAGES.
Smartly, she hid the passports of the Americans and saved many of their lives.
7. Neerja
was shot by bullets only some hours before her 23rd birthday which was on 7th
September.
TRIBUTES:-
1.0 As
a tribute to this brave soul, the Indian Postal Service released a stamp in
2004.
2.0
Neerja Bhanot Award, by CIVIL AVIATION
AUTHORITY OF INDIA, an award in respect of Neerja Bhanot is given to a flight
attendant worldwide who went beyond the call of Duty. This award contains a trophy, a citation and
INR 1,50,000 rupees, with equal contribution from Pan Am.
3.0
She is the youngest and only civilian female to receive a military award, The
Ashok Chakra.
4..0 Tamgha-e-Insaaniyat (for showing incredible human
kindness), Pakistan
5.0 Flight Safety Foundation Heroism Award 1987, United
States
6.0 Justice for Crimes Award 2005, United States Attorney’s
Office for the District of Columbia, United States
7.0 Special Courage
Award 2006, United States Department of Justice, United States
8.0 There’s
a square called Neerja Bhanot Chowk which is named after her in Ghatkopar,
Mumbai.
9. 0For
her fearless act, Neerja was recognised internationally as ‘The Heroine of the
Hijack’.
10.0
Her life and humanitarian actions inspired the 2016 Indian Hindi-language
biographical film Neerja, directed by Ram Madhvani and starring
actress Sonam
Kapoor.
I
SALUTE HER OWING TO SUPREME SACRIFICE RENDERED AFOR THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY
Note:-
If you read all the references listed below,-- there are some contradictions.
Ignore that.
REFERENCES:-
2.0
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neerja_Bhanot
5.0
If you search Google—you may get some more references.
6.0
Image: GOOGLE
Excellent Sarasij , a fine read feel proud of her sacrifices. Knew and read earlier. But as usual you have taken lot of pains fir thorough research. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. She is the Gold Standard for Air Hostess professionals.
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