Quick Info
| Profession | Model, Purser |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 07/09/1963 |
| Age | 22 years (died on 05, Sep, 1986) |
| Birthplace | Chandigarh, India |
| Date of Death | 05/09/1986 |
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Bio/Wiki
| Neerja Bhanot was an Indian flight purser and model who heroically saved numerous passengers during the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 on 5 September 1986 at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport by terrorists from the Abu Nidal Organization. | |
| Born in Chandigarh, she moved to Mumbai as a teenager and began her career as a model before joining Pan American World Airways as a senior flight purser. | |
| During the 17-hour hijacking, she and other crew members hid American passports to protect passengers, opened emergency exits for evacuations, and she ultimately sacrificed her life shielding three children from gunfire. |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 170 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 60 kg |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
Educational Qualification(s)
| College | St. Xavier's College, Mumbai |
|---|
Personal Life
| Place of Birth | Chandigarh, India |
|---|---|
| Place of Death | Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Zodiac sign/Sun sign | Virgo |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Separated when died |
|---|---|
| Husband/Spouse | Naresh Mishra (1985-1985) |
Family
| Father | Late Harish Bhanot (Former Journalist with The Hindustan Times) |
|---|---|
| Mother | Late Rama Bhanot |
| Brother | Akhil Bhanot, Aneesh Bhanot |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Career
| Started as a successful model in Mumbai, appearing in advertisements including a campaign for Forhans toothpaste. | |
| Joined Pan American World Airways as a flight attendant and quickly rose to the position of senior purser on international flights. |
Favourites
| Favourite Actor | Rajesh Khanna |
|---|
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Neerja was honored with the 'Ashok Chakra Award,' India’s highest peacetime gallantry award. | |
| 2. After her passing, Neerja was awarded 'the United States Special Courage Award' and the Pakistani 'Tamgha-e-Insaaniyat.' | |
| 3. The Indian Postal Service issued a stamp in memory of Neerja in 2004. | |
| 4. In February 2016, her brother Aneesh Bhanot authored 'The Neerja I Knew.' | |
| 5. A Hindi-language biographical film featuring Sonam Kapoor as the lead was made to celebrate her life. | |
| 6. She was the first female and, until 2003, the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra. | |
| 7. Her family established the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust to recognize Indian women overcoming social injustice and airline crew showing courage in crises. |