BUDGET 2025 AT A GLANCE||| SOME KEY PROVISIONS

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:-

1.0 http://m.indiatoday.in/story/praises-showered-on-pan-am-air-hostess-neerja-mishra-for-exceptional-bravery/1/348897.html

2.0 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neerja_Bhanot

3.0 http://www.catchnews.com/national-news/pakistan-bans-neerja-now-but-why-then-did-they-award-the-pan-am-hero-1455181404.html

4.0 https://www.britannica.com/event/Pan-Am-flight-73-hijacking#:~:text=Pan%20Am%20flight%2073%20hijacking%2C%20takeover%20of%20a%20Pan%20American,dead%20and%20some%20150%20injured.

5.0 If you search Google—you may get some more references.

6.0 Image: GOOGLE