[James C. Bennett]

Neerja Bhanot (September 7, 1964 - September 5, 1986) born in Chandigarh, India was the daughter of Harish & Rama Bhanot and was a Flight attendant for Pan Am airlines. She was the senior flight purser on the ill-fated Pan Am Flight 73 flight.

She hid the passports of the passengers on the flight so that the hijackers could not differentiate between American and Non-American citizens. She laid down her life while shielding three children from the bullets fired by the terrorists.

For her bravery the Government of India posthumously awarded her the Ashoka Chakra (India's highest decoration for gallantry away from the battlefield, or not in the face of the enemy). She is the youngest recipient of the same. In 2004 the Indian Postal Service released a stamp commemorating her.

[Carley]

A woman of honor and courage.

Thank you.

[neodad]

You can run, but you can’t hide. Karma is a bit@h.

[trumandogz]

Twenty four years was way to long to let that POS live, but thankfully the USA finally killed him.

Kudos to all those involved in planning, approving and carrying out this attack.

[DesertRhino]

“The hijackers, who were said to be from the Abu Nidal Organisation”

This is the guy who lived in iraq until his suicide just before we invaded,, right? Iraq of course, being that country with no connection to terror.

[tanuki]

Thanks for posting. Anyone who wants to see what’s at stake in the GWOT need only look at that photo.

[MarMema]

Wow. I had not heard about this. Thank you for posting.
God Bless you, Neerja.

[livius]

I had forgotten about this story.

I’m glad the evil killer got what wsa coming to him. Better late than never.

And as for her, prayers and gratitude.

[El Gato]

hen she died in 1986 in a hail of gunfire on a hijacked plane after courageously saving scores of passengers, a feat for which she was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in India, Tamgha-e-Insaniyat in Pakistan and the Justice for Crimes Award in the US. Earlier this week, some 24 years after her heroism, one of her killers died a dog's death in the badlands of Pakistan, reportedly shot to pieces in a US drone attack.

Couldn't happen to a more deserving recipient. But I certainly wouldn't wish it on a dog, or even a pig. That would be cruel, but in this guy's case it was simple justice. Delayed, but justice nonetheless.

[happinesswithoutpeace]

They can run.

They can hide.

It all evens out in the end.

[Talisker]

For her bravery the Government of India posthumously awarded her the Ashoka Chakra (India's highest decoration for gallantry away from the battlefield, or not in the face of the enemy).

India gave her the wrong medal.

From trumandogz post #6 above: Neerja dashed to the emergency door and flung it open, letting out a cry "Get out, run!" — the words that will continue to ring in the ears of the survivors. She used all her strength to guide and push people down the chute and while shielding three children, she absorbed the onslaught of bullets into her own body.

She was on the battlefield, and died facing the enemy - not the opposite. The medal deprives her of that acknowledgement, and should be changed to reflect these profound aspects of courage in addition to the fact that she also gave her life to save others.

[lack-of-trust]

some 24 years after her heroism, one of her killers died a dog’s death

some 24 years after her heroism, one of her killers died a dog’s death!!!

one of her killers DIED A DOG’S DEATH!!!

it bears repeating.

[Enchante]

Amazing story — the fact that I had never read or heard about Neerja Bhanot and the entire saga of this terrorist attack may be partly my fault, but it also reflects the horrendous failures of our “news” media and political class.

Had this and many other terror attacks received adequate analysis and understanding long ago, the prospects for stopping terrorist jihad in its tracks in the ‘90s would have been far higher.

Instead, the pestilence was allowed to fester and spread for far far too long.

[darkangel82]

The ultimate zot.

[john in springfield]

Tick, tock.

[willyd]

My third grade gym teacher’s wife was on that plane. She was shot in the head at the door and dropped down the stairs. She survived. She was interviewed on television recently and the story she told was horrific.

Neerja Bhanot seems like a real hero and a testament to the values of Indians.