The heroic deeds of Smit Machchhar is making headlines globally but nobody can ever forget Neerja Bhanot

The heroic deeds of Smit Machchhar is making headlines globally but nobody can ever forget Neerja Bhanot

Netizens are today recalling the sacrifice of flight attendant Neerja Bhanot who gave her life saving 359 passengers during the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi on 5 September 1986.

Netizens are today recalling the sacrifice of flight attendant Neerja Bhanot who gave her life saving 359 passengers during the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi on 5 September 1986.

She became the youngest and first female recipient of India's highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra

She became the youngest and first female recipient of India's highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra

“1986: Indian flight attendant Neerja Bhanot saved 360 passengers from a plane hijacked by Palestinian terrorists, sacrificing her own life. 2026: Indian origin pilot Smit Machhar saved 180 passengers from an Omani attacker, risking his own life. When humanity is in danger, Indians step up,” one wrote

“1986: Indian flight attendant Neerja Bhanot saved 360 passengers from a plane hijacked by Palestinian terrorists, sacrificing her own life. 2026: Indian origin pilot Smit Machhar saved 180 passengers from an Omani attacker, risking his own life. When humanity is in danger, Indians step up,” one wrote

“This is not the first time an Indian saved innocent people from terror attacks. In 1986, Neerja Bhanot, an Indian flight attendant, saved 340 lives including Americans and many other nationalities who were the main targets of the terrorists during a PanAm flight hijacking. She died shielding 3 children from bullets.,” another added

“This is not the first time an Indian saved innocent people from terror attacks. In 1986, Neerja Bhanot, an Indian flight attendant, saved 340 lives including Americans and many other nationalities who were the main targets of the terrorists during a PanAm flight hijacking. She died shielding 3 children from bullets.,” another added

“Two Indian heroes, NEERJA BHANOT and Captain SMIT MACHCHHAR, faced danger to save lives. Different flights, different decades, but the same courage and instinct: putting passengers first. Their bravery reminds the world what true duty and humanity mean.,” a third added

“Two Indian heroes, NEERJA BHANOT and Captain SMIT MACHCHHAR, faced danger to save lives. Different flights, different decades, but the same courage and instinct: putting passengers first. Their bravery reminds the world what true duty and humanity mean.,” a third added

“Forty years apart, two Indians found themselves in situations where every second mattered. In 1986, Neerja Bhanot was serving as senior flight purser on Pan Am Flight 73 when armed hijackers seized the aircraft in Karachi. She hid passengers’ passports, helped people escape when gunfire erupted and ultimately gave her life while protecting three children. 359 of the 379 people onboard survived. Four decades later, in 2026, Capt. Smit Machchhar faced a different kind of emergency aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. His co-pilot allegedly attacked him, leaving him seriously injured. Yet Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to intervene and overpower the attacker. Other crew members then helped bring the aircraft to a safe landing in Saudi Arabia. All 174 passengers survived, including 27 children. Different years. Different crises. Different circumstances. But one instinct remained the same: Protect the people behind you, even when you are fighting for your own safety. A heartfelt salute to Neerja Bhanot and Capt. Smit Machchhar.,: a fourth commented

“Forty years apart, two Indians found themselves in situations where every second mattered. In 1986, Neerja Bhanot was serving as senior flight purser on Pan Am Flight 73 when armed hijackers seized the aircraft in Karachi. She hid passengers’ passports, helped people escape when gunfire erupted and ultimately gave her life while protecting three children. 359 of the 379 people onboard survived. Four decades later, in 2026, Capt. Smit Machchhar faced a different kind of emergency aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. His co-pilot allegedly attacked him, leaving him seriously injured. Yet Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to intervene and overpower the attacker. Other crew members then helped bring the aircraft to a safe landing in Saudi Arabia. All 174 passengers survived, including 27 children. Different years. Different crises. Different circumstances. But one instinct remained the same: Protect the people behind you, even when you are fighting for your own safety. A heartfelt salute to Neerja Bhanot and Capt. Smit Machchhar.,: a fourth commented

Northeast Now

www.nenow.in

Read More

Click Here