Neerja Bhanot was an Indian flight attendant. On 5 September 1986, she saved a large number of passengers on board Pan Am Flight 73, which had been hijacked by four Palestinian terrorists from the Abu Nidal Organization after it made a stopover at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan. Around 17 hours into the standoff, after she opened an emergency exit door and began helping passengers escape from the plane, Neerja was shot and killed by the hijackers. Shortly afterward, Pakistan's Special Service Group stormed the aircraft and captured all of the hijackers.
Neerja Bhanot, Indian flight purser, known for her heroic actions on Pan Am Flight 73, during which she was killed (born 1963)
On September 5, in the year 1986, Neerja Bhanot, Indian flight purser, known for her heroic actions on Pan Am Flight 73, during which she was killed (born 1963). This event is recorded as a Notable Deaths event in the history of September 5, one of 493 recorded events on this date across all of history.
1 notable person is associated with this event, including Neerja Bhanot. Learn more below.
Key Facts
- This event took place on September 5, 1986 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Notable Deaths event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 3 Wikipedia articles.
- 1 notable person is recorded as involved in or associated with this event.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 22 August 2026.
On This Date in History 493
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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