neerja saved child now a pilot
It was blamed for a string of attacks in the 1970s and 80s, killing and wounding hundreds of people, The Pan Am crew were recognised with courage awards by the airline in 1986, the US Department of Justice in 2005 and the US attorney general in 2006. Though Neerja couldn't make it herself, the flight attendant's bravery saved most of the passengers. And in the end, she sacrificed her life to save three kids by acting as their shield and getting hit by several bullets. Special Courage Award, US Government 5. Indian Civil Aviation Ministrys Award 6. "Survivors [of such atrocities] are living each day with the memories," says Madhvi. At 9.55 pm, when the flight's auxiliary power unit ran out of fuel, plunging the aircraft into darkness, the hijackers went on a shooting spree. Four terrorists in the guise of airport security staff entered the aircraft in Karachi. Mike Thexton, a passenger on the plane, describes the act in his book What Happened to The Hippy Man? "Many have criticised the pilots for leaving the rest of the crew behind, but I was relieved when I saw the pilots were gone, as we were all safer on the ground than we would be in the air. Her heroic story has now been converted into a film where actress, Sonam Kapoor, is playing her part. Bhanot opened one of the airplane doors, and even though she could have been the first one to jump out and flee from the aircraft, she did not do so and instead started helping the other passengers escape. "The hijack is far from over for me and my colleagues. She appeared in many TV commercials and print ads. Our flight took off from Mumbai and landed in Karachi around 4.30 a.m. Know about the heroic deeds of these people as well: 10 Stories Of Human Bravery And Kindness During The Chennai Floods That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity. One is given to a flight crew member from any part of the world, who works beyond the call of duty. She was the senior flight purser on the ill-fated Pan Am Flight 73 flying from Mumbai to USA, which was hijacked by four armed men on September 5, 1986 when it was stopped at Karachi airport in Pakistan. They climbed back in through the door they had come through, and along with Sherene and another colleague, assisted and redirected passengers to the inflated slide. With a little assistance, she slid down the chute to be received at the other end by another member of the crew. And in the end, she sacrificed her life to save three kids by acting as their shield and getting. She could have escaped like the pilots did, but she didn't do it. Bhanot was able to alert the cockpit crew as soon as the hijackers boarded the plane, and as the plane was on the apron, the three-member cockpit crew of pilot, co-pilot and the flight engineer fled from the aircraft through an overhead hatch in the cockpit. According to the FBI they are believed to have been members of the Abu Nidal Organisation, a known terrorist organisation. Neerja Bhanot was the senior flight attendant aboard Pam Am Flight 73 when it landed in Karachi, Pakistan, on the morning of September 1986. Saved from the flood: Rescuers tell of harrowing conditions as they plucked driver from raging waters. She posthumously received multiple awards for her courage from the Government of United States, and the Tamgha-e-Pakistan from Pakistan, an award given for showing great human kindness. Everything you see today is built on the backs of warriors who have sacrificed opportunities to help give Asians all over the world a bigger voice. The crew of Pan Am Flight 73 (three of whom are pictured here with their colleagues) were all in their early to mid 20s at the time of the hijack. Of the 23 years of her life, she had lived 22 years and 10 months under bracing sunshine, Mr. Bhanot who died in 2008 wrote, according to the Hindustan Times: The two month long ugly patch was a dowry cloud. They pushed her down first, then jumped out themselves. The hijackers, who were a part of Abu Nidal Organisation, were allegedly backed by Libya. Get your daily dose of uplifting stories, positive impact, and updates delivered straight into your inbox. Because her story isn't just about how she , a young 22 year old woman, bravely saved 359 lives all while sacrificing her own . The braveheart made sure she got all the passengers out of trouble and lost her life just two days before her 23rd birthday. As evening set in, the on-board power supply started to dwindle, the lights got dimmer and the cool air stopped circulating. (now Mumbai) that had landed at Karachi early morning on Sept. 5, 1986. "On occasion he would hold my hair, force my face to the window and ask what I could see on the tarmac. She had been bleeding, from at least two bullet wounds, for nearly 15 minutes. At the time, they planned to use the plane to retrieve Palestinian prisoners in both Cyprus and Israel. Bhanot, who could have escaped since opening one of the doors, chose to remain on board. Neerja Bhanot (7 September 1963 5 September 1986)[1][2] was an Indian purser who died while saving passengers on Pan Am Flight 73 which had been hijacked by terrorists from a terrorist organization during a stopover in Karachi, Pakistan, on 5 September 1986, just two days before her 23rd birthday. [7] She was a huge fan of actor Rajesh Khanna and used to refer to quotes from his films throughout her life. Please read these FAQs before contributing. They didn't discuss the hijack. Atul Kasbekar, who has co-produced the film, took to Twitter on Monday to thank Khanjan for sharing his feelings about . Biopic. At this stage the hijackers still believed a pilot would be found to fly the plane for them. Neerja Bhanot died on the night of Sept. 5, 1986, after terrorists killed her for helping passengers escape Pan Am Flight 73 hijacked at Karachi airport, Pakistan. I was then taken to Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai. The Incredible Story of Neerja Bhanot Indian Flight Attendant Who Saved 360 Lives, Click here if you want to make a contribution of your choice instead. Ashok Chakra Award, India 2. She was ultimately shot while shielding three children from the hijackers. These are general horoscope predictions based on the sun signs. "The pilots evacuating the airplane meant that we were not at the mercy of the terrorists, who could have instructed the plane to be flown into a building, or even blown up whilst in flight.". According to her father, she found herself starved off finance and food, losing 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of weight in that period. The Indian Postal Service released a stamp in 2004, to commemorate her bravery. Suddenly, there were screams and three or four shots were fired in the air. Every year, this trust presents two special awards. Yes, we are talking about none other than Indias brave daughter, the flight attendant of Pan Am Flight 73, Neerja Bhanot. Around 9:00 p.m., the auxiliary power unit shut down, turning all lighting off. Sunshine remained alert. However, like a doting mother she did not hesitate from saying that her laado was prettier than Sonam. She had two brothers, Akhil and Aneesh Bhanot. While saving the lives of 380 passengers . "I didn't see medical facilities at the airport besides minor first aid The hospital was several kilometres away from the airport," says Dilip. Safarini and the rest of the hijackers, identified as Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim (alias Fahad), Muhammad Abdullah Khalil Hussain ar-Rahayyal (alias Khalil) and Muhammad Ahmed Al-Munawar (alias Mansoor) were arrested. Indian Civil Aviation Ministrys Award 6. Watch Neerja Full Movie on Disney+ Hotstar now. This incident has had a deep impact on me. "Neerja's life may have been saved were conditions in the hospital better.". Everyone was told to have their hands locked above their heads. Read about our approach to external linking. India Today Web Desk. (From top left): Nupoor, Sunshine, Sherene, Dilip. "That day, knowingly or unknowingly, we came together as a team and played our parts to the best of our ability," says Massey Casper, another steward. Upon learning that the pilots had escaped, lead hijacker Zayd Hassan Abd al-Latif Safarini, also known as Mustafa, was forced to negotiate with officials. Synopsis Neerja is a portrayal on the life of the courageous Neerja Bhanot, who sacrificed her life while protecting the lives of 359 passengers on the Pan Am flight 73 in 1986. Neerja was caught by the leader of the terrorists and shot point blank. 22 cr. Safarini released Thexton after Daroga informed that a crew member on board was able to use the cockpit radio for further negotiation, but the stalemate continued into the night. Over the next few hours on the upper deck, Safarini let his guard down several times, Sunshine says. Lives in The United States of America (2008-present) 6 y I do not know of the other two but one of the young kids saved by Neerja (then 7) is now the owner of an Airplane company. During their interviews with the BBC, they stressed that there was no single hero that day, that crew members not interviewed played an equally important role, and that they want survivors of terror attacks like 9/11 and Paris to know that life goes on. It had just arrived from Mumbai, where Neerja lived, and was scheduled to continue on to Frankfurt and then New York. One of the children Neerja saved, who was just seven at the time, is now a pilot. We were a group of singers and music composers from Ahmedabad, who were going to perform in different cities of USA. One of the worst hijacks in aviation history it claimed 20 lives; this was the largest toll in a hijack until 9/11. We at The Better India want to showcase everything that is working in this country. Get your daily dose of uplifting stories, positive impact, and updates delivered straight into your inbox. But, my eye couldnt be treated there. A camera beast, indeed: OnePlus11 5G x Hasselblad, Man, 50, beaten to death over rasgulla at wedding reception in UP's Mainpuri, Ex-MP on Kanpur deaths: Women have tendency to immolate selves, Sena symbol verdict: EC a slave of Centre, democracy in danger, will move SC, Uddhav says, 'We've reinvented governance to benefit poor: PM Modi. Image via, Muhammad Ahmed Al-Munawar (Mansoor) in 2000 (Left) andhis age-processed image in 2018 (Right). [1][11] She also had a successful modelling career simultaneously during her work at Pan Am. She died heroically, saving Pan Am passengers from terrorists on Sept. 5, 1986. Neerja was a very sensitive, deeply affectionate and an extremely decent person who believed in sharing with her people all her joys but not the jolts. The Incredible Story of Neerja Bhanot Indian Flight Attendant Who Saved 360 Lives, This Punjab Village Immortalized Neerja Bhanot Long Before Sonam Kapoor Did, For Lado This Emotional Letter by Neerja Bhanots Father Will Touch Your Heart, Click here if you want to make a contribution of your choice instead. Musician Nayan Pancholi recounts how he lost his eye but survived the Pan Am flight hijack in 1986. She was truly a great leader. Disguised as airport security guards, the hijackers possessed assault rifles, pistols, grenades and plastic explosive belts. The heroic act of an Indian flight attendant who sacrificed herself to save the lives of hundreds of passengers from Palestinian terrorists hijacking their plane in 1986 is remembered in history for the 33rd year this month. "[15] A child on board, then aged seven, became a captain for a major airline and has stated that Bhanot has been his inspiration, and that he owes every day of his life to her. All have coped in different ways. A 7-year-old child who was on board during the hijacking is now a captain for a major airline and has stated that Neerja Bhanot has been his inspiration, and he owes every day of his life to her. [17], Bhanot House of Austrey School was named in her honour. A fifth accomplice, Wadoud Muhammad Hafiz al-Turki (alias Hafiz), was captured a week later. A selfless human being and the one with a courageous heart! Neerja Tiwari is an Indian Dancer. Survivors said Neerja shielded three children with her body as the hijackers opened fire. Not only did she become an inspiration for millions of people all over the world and got numerous medals for her brave act, but was also the first woman recipient of the countrys highest bravery award to a civilian, the Ashok Chakra. Pan Am flight 73 flew from Mumbai to the U.S. with a stop in Karachi, Pakistan on September 5, 1986. Listen to The Quicky to catch up on today's news. Rajesh Kumar, whom Safarini had promised to kill if a pilot did not arrive soon. The pilot picked up on her second attempt and she relayed the hijack code. The hijacker didn't seem to know much about the plane so he didn't look for it," says Sunshine. But, she was the captain, who believed that she had to be the last person to quit alive or dead., Recommended Read: This Cafe In Agra That Hires Only Acid Attack Victims Will Reinstate Your Faith In Humanity. Image Courtesy: Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust. Interestingly, one of the three children Bhanot had saved, then aged 7, became a captain of a major airline, according to One India. The terrorists used Neerja For a more personalised . Listen to her voice, it surely gave us goosebumps thinking that Neerja did not even know while making this announcement that she would die that very day. It was 25 hours before her 23rd birthday. [8], Her father, Harish Bhanot, worked as a journalist with The Hindustan Times for more than 30 years and died on New Year's Day in 2008 in Chandigarh at the age of 86. "I noticed immediately that the escape devices in the cockpit had been deployed. Three years later I am honoured to convey this inspirational story. Neerja may still be alive if she'd been cared for right away," says Sunshine. She died while attempting to help passengers escape, shielding three children from a hail of bullets. In the memory of his martyred daughter, Neerja Bhanot's father wrote a heartrending piece that gives the reader a glimpse into her life before she died saving the passengers of the hijacked Pan Am Flight 73 in 1986. Neerja streaming: where to watch online? Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. [11][12][13], The hijackers were part of the Abu Nidal Organization, a Palestinian terrorist organization backed by Libya; they were targeting Americans and American assets. Bhanot alerted the cockpit crew about the hijack and, as the plane was on the tarmac, the three-member American cockpit crew of pilot, co-pilot and the flight engineer fled from the aircraft. Now he is under the charge online and position of child pornography. Neerja Bhanot was an Indian flight attendant, who died on Pan Am Flight 73 on 5 September 1986 at the age of 23, while saving the lives of the passengers onboard after the hijack of the aircraft. It was September 5, 1986. "The stories may differ but the spirit remains the same.". A biopic on the brave Neerja Bhanot, the head purser had sacrificed her life for the safety . By using the power of constructive journalism, we want to change India one story at a time. Posthumously, she became and remains the youngest recipient of India's highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra, as well as several other accolades from the governments of Pakistan and the United States. People . We were travelling to the USA for a series of performances. On September 6,1986 five terrorists hijacked the US bound Pan Am Flight-73 flight at Karachi airport, and took control of the aircraft. The filmmakers also released Neerjas last voice recording in which she could be heard making an announcement to the passengers of her Pan Am flight, just moments before the plane was hijacked. Two other doors were opened during the bloodbath: one by another attendant, and another by the passenger who received Bhanots page, which was the only exit opened to have a slide deploy. In the evening, they allowed everyone to go to the toilet, one after the other, by crawling on the floor with our hands locked over our heads. I noticed that the evacuation hatch on the ceiling of the cockpit was open, but I pretended not to. She had well defined principles and there was little room for compromise in that area, wrote her father in Hindustan Times after her death. I just cant forget that sight. [9] Her mother died on 5 December 2015 at the age of 86.[10]. The gunmen positioned themselves on either side of the aisles. Meera Former Class 10 student at Doon International School Author has 68 answers and 70.2K answer views 6 y It was a very bad day for humanity. (Credits: Solo shots - individuals' own; group shot: Pan Am crew Facebook page), The crew now: (From top left to bottom right), all credits to the individuals) Sherene, Massey, Madhvi, Sunshine, Dilip, Nupoor, Passenger Mike Thexton has praised the flight attendants' bravery, A film has recently been released about Neerja Bhanot, who was fatally injured in the hijack. Justice for Crimes Award, United States Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia. Two terrorists were standing in the front and the other two were standing near the rear. Let us know! When no pilot materialised within the hour, Mr Kumar was shot and kicked out of the plane. It was inaugurated by Amitabh Bachchan in the early 1990s. The award includes a sum of 150,000 Indian rupees (around $2,100) a trophy and a citation. You can now interact with Neerja Tiwari via Tring! "Neerja was put into the ambulance without a stretcher.". Image via, his age-processed image in 2018 (Right). Bhanots life also inspired the 2016 film Neerja, starring Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor. After being selected, she flew to Miami to train as a flight attendant, but surprised her family when she returned home as a purser (chief flight attendant). She hopes that, in speaking out, "we can all connect through our survival stories and form a fabric of power and strength going forward". Travis Whittemore Death Reason He was an air force veteran and He saved to be a pilot for a Major airline then they go through his phone they said it was a case of child pornography. Unfortunately, things took a grim turn on Sept. 5, 1986 two days before her 23rd birthday when four armed Palestinian men hijacked Pan Am Flight 73 at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan. He told the four men that the airport authorities were looking for pilots to fly them where they needed to go. Neerja Bhanot was a flight attendant who gave her life saving hundreds during a hijacking 33 years ago. They also shed light on the last few hours of Neerja Bhanot, their colleague who died in the attack and is the subject of the new film. 1 hr 56 min 2016 Biopic U/A 13+ A biopic on the brave Neerja Bhanot, the head purser had sacrificed her life for the safety of her passengers when terrorists hijacked Pan Am Flight 73. The story of courageous Neerja Bhanot, who sacrificed her life while protecting the lives of 359 passengers on Pan Am Flight 73 in 1986 when it was hijacked by a terrorist organization. They also want people to know they dearly miss their colleagues Neerja Bhanot and Meherjee Kharas. Barely 21 yet, Frank is a skilled forger who has passed as a doctor, lawyer and pilot. He said he was looking for American fighter planes," says Sherene. He joked and flirted, invited her to go with him to Cyprus, and promised to teach her to swim. Massey had already exited down the slide just moments earlier, taking three unaccompanied children with him. After giving it a second try, it opened, but at the same time a grenade hit me in the left eye. That is when the terrorists were firing constantly fearing a commando attack. And, we once again salute this brave soldier who made her nation proud with her selfless act. But the marriage went sour within two months. One of the children Neerja saved, who was just seven at the time, is now a pilot. And after almost 17-hour ordeal, the gunmen opened fire and explosives. Bhanots legacy remains with her familys establishment of the annual Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust, which reportedly presents an award for a flight crew member who acts beyond the call of duty and another, and the Neerja Bhanot Award, to an Indian woman who bravely faces social injustice and extends help to other women in similar situations. Listen to her voice, it surely gave us goosebumps thinking that Neerja did not even know while making this announcement that she would die that very day. In the early minutes of the hijacking, the terrorists identified an American-Indian citizen, dragged him to the exit, shot him and threw his body on the tarmac. He considers her to be his role model. They then went through the bags of passports they had collected, secretly sifting out any remaining American ones and tucking them under their seats or concealing them in their clothing. Neerjas parents started the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust, using the insurance money and an equal contribution from Pan Am. She could have escaped to safety. Tamgha-e-Insaaniyat (Awarded for showing incredible human kindness), Pakistan 3. However, Nupoor Abrol, one of the crew members who was on-board the Pan Am flight claims that in the movie, undeserved adulation has been given to Neerja Bhanot. He repeatedly led either Sunshine or Sherene at gunpoint up to the upper deck cockpit, using them as human shields while he peeked round them to have a look outside. He says that Neerja remains to be his greatest inspiration. Sherene, and another colleague Ranee Vaswani, were the last two hostages to leave the plane. Neerja Tiwari's birthday is on the 1st of January. A woman threw a house party with 65 men she matched with on Tinder and Hinge and connected with the man she's been dating for a year. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service, Neerja took bullets for us: Pan Am survivor. She was the youngest child to her parents as the couple were blessed with two boys before her. The hijackers, who were a part of Abu Nidal Organisation, were allegedly backed by Libya. The Better India is amplifying Infosys Foundation's initiative to recognise and reward brilliant social innovations in the fields Brave, full of life, dedicated, charming, and compassionate Neerja Bhanot will always be remembered as the incredible young woman who made an extraordinary sacrifice for the protection of passengers on board the Pan Am Flight that was hijacked on September 5, 1986. The terrorists used Neerja to communicate with the airline. At the time, they planned to use the plane to retrieve Palestinian prisoners in both Cyprus and Israel. Tamgha-e-Insaaniyat (Awarded for showing incredible human kindness), Pakistan 3. Girls high school basketball team forfeits a game because it refused to play against a team with a transgender player, Fox Leaders Wanted to Break From Trump but Struggled to Make It Happen, Not Going to Read That: White House Press Secretary Brushes Off DeSantis Op-Ed. And, we once again salute this brave soldier who made her nation proud with her selfless act. Here's why. "This changed everything. Neerja was caught by the leader of the terrorists and shot point blank, Mr. Bhanot wrote, citing accounts of eyewitnesses. Nupoor tried to comfort the passengers around her while her colleague Dilip Bidichandani took round sandwiches and Neerja distributed water. She and the other attendants under her charge hid the passports of the remaining 43 Americans on board, some under a seat and the rest down a garbage chute so that the hijackers could not differentiate between American and non-American passengers. She helped him open the exit hatch when the hijackers began firing. Neerja, the film based on the bravery of Pan Am flight attendant Neerja Bhanot who saved the lives of 359 people after the plane was hijacked, released on Friday and it has done very well. I was given treatment at a hospital in Karachi. She was also posthumously awarded India's highest peacetime gallantry the Ashok Chakra Award, and is known internationally as the "heroine of the hijack.". He considers Neerja his role model, and says he owes every day of his life to her. Although she managed to save 359 lives on the plane, she could not survive herself. But, the crew of three American members including a pilot, a co-pilot and the flight engineer fled from the aircraft, thus leaving her in charge. (ANO), a nationalist militant group with unclear ideological positions, but reportedly opposed any form of compromise or negotiation with Israel. Except Neerja, all other flight attendants were tied up with ropes. Convinced that the hijackers would single out American passengers, Bhanot and attendants under her watch began to hide some American passports under seats and threw others in a waste chute. With Tring, you can even get your brand promoted by Neerja Tiwari. Neerja. Neerja's colleagues say she was still alive when she arrived at Karachi's Jinnah Hospital. The Pakistani army then boarded the aircraft, but not in time to save Neerja, who was shot several times, trying to save three children. "My first instinct was to open the wing exit and slip out with as many passengers as I could, but I realised that this would leave the rest of the passengers vulnerable," then flight attendant Nupoor Abrol told BBC News. However, like a doting mother she did not hesitate from saying that her laado was prettier than Sonam. After her death, her family set up the Neerja Bhanot Trust from the insurance proceeds. Every year, this trust presents two special awards. And after almost 17-hour ordeal, the gunmen opened fire and explosives. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. It shocked the world, and is the subject of a newly released film, but the surviving crew have until now remained silent. A selfless human being and the one with a courageous heart! There were huge streaks of light breaking the darkness. The trust presents two awards every year, one for a flight crew member, worldwide, who acts beyond the call of duty and another, the Neerja Bhanot Award, to an Indian woman who when faced with social injustice, bravely faced the situation and helped other women in similar social distress. The Story Of An Indore Bachelor Who Is The Youngest Indian To Adopt A Special Child Will Leave You Inspired, 10 Stories Of Human Bravery And Kindness During The Chennai Floods That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity, This Cafe In Agra That Hires Only Acid Attack Victims Will Reinstate Your Faith In Humanity, Educated Homeless Man Finds A Job After Actor Ahsan Khans Video Goes Viral, Top 10 Worst Bollywood Jodis Of 2015 That Made You Cringe This Year, 8 Bollywood Siblings Who Failed To Become Successful Like Their Star Brothers And Sisters. Read about our approach to external linking. According to a surviving passenger, "She was guiding the passengers to the emergency exit. Remembering Neerja Bhanot on hijacked Pan Am Flight 73. Hindi. By using the power of constructive journalism, we want to change India one story at a time. But, she along with her co-workers hid the passports of 41 American passengers, so as to save them from the horrendous gunmen. Some of us, passengers and crew alike, are still struggling with the skeletons of the past, trying to fix the puzzle of incidents, sequences, people who were involved in the chains of events," says Nupoor. CHANDIGARH: As Sonam Kapoor's upcoming film Neerja, a biopic on Neerja Bhanot of Chandigarh, India's youngest recipient of the Ashok Chakra, hits the big screen on February 19, one of the survivors of the Pan Am Flight 73 flight hijack remembers the terror-filled moments and how the 22-year-old cabin crew member saved the lives of a bulk of the passengers. She was shot point blank, while shielding three children from the bullets. Her heroic story has now been converted into a film where actress, Sonam Kapoor, is playing her part. The terrorists wanted to fly to Cyprus with the goal of freeing Palestinian prisoners in Cyprus. ", "Civil Aviation Ministry honours air hostess Neerja Bhanot who was killed by terrorists", "Neerja's killer may get 160 years in prison", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Neerja_Bhanot&oldid=1139542872, Recipients of the Ashoka Chakra (military decoration), Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in Indian English, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:29. But, the crew of three American members including a pilot, a co-pilot and the flight engineer fled from the. We wish her soul to rest in peace always and pray that her family gets more strength each day to bear their unimaginable loss. And in the end, she sacrificed her life to save three kids by acting as their shield and getting hit by several bullets. Some people, shine even after death. The terrorists then instructed Bhanot to collect the passports of all the passengers so that they could identify the other Americans on board. [4][5] She was the daughter of Harish Bhanot, a Bombay-based journalist, and Rama Bhanot. That shows her guts and her inner strength. It was Frank Small, a non-Indian and someone who has been working in the airline industry for 31 years, who remembered Neerja on the day with this touching Facebook post of her story. They asked Neerja for all the passports of the passengers to identify the Americans. She was the last person to quit. There was a bloody end - 22 people killed and about 150 injured. Meherjee Kharas, a 28-year-old Pan Am mechanic on board, was forced to make radio contact with negotiators outside. Neerja Bhanot was senior flight purser on the Empress of the Seas, a Pan Am 747 hijacked at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi by four armed men from the Abu Nidal organization en route to Frankfurt and New York. Passed as a doctor, lawyer and pilot his guard down several times, says. Needed to go with him to Cyprus with the memories, '' says Sherene after giving it second. 17-Hour ordeal, the gunmen opened fire and explosives hijack is far from over me. And Rama Bhanot brave daughter, the hijackers opened fire and explosives power unit shut down, turning all off. Leave the plane to retrieve Palestinian prisoners in both Cyprus and Israel the emergency.. Soul to rest in peace always and pray that her laado was prettier than Sonam terrorists..., but the surviving crew have until now remained silent now Mumbai ) that had landed at airport. 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