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 |
Latest News about Neerja Bhanot
05/09/2025
India remembered Neerja Bhanot on the 39th anniversary of the Pan Am Flight 73 hijacking, honoring her as an icon of courage who saved over 350 passengers. On Teachers' Day, which coincides with her death date, officials and citizens recalled how she shielded three children from gunfire and was killed two days before her 23rd birthday.
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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. | |
| She saved over 350 passengers, including 44 Pakistanis and 41 Americans, by alerting the cockpit crew to escape and opening emergency exits before being shot by hijackers. |
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. | |
| 8. She was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in 1987. |