(Neerja Bhanot's pictures courtesy: Aneesh Bhanot)

Sonam Kapoor’s Neerja has brought alive memories of the braveheart Neerja Bhanot. Some survivors of the ill-fated PanAm flight 73 recount the sordid memories of that September day in 1986 when the airhostess gave up her life in the line of duty. We take you down the emotional journey...

"Neerja was standing right next to the exit. She could have easily escaped first but she chose to push everyone else out. She went to save the kids who were stuck inside and got shot from behind. She slid out upside down."

Dharmendra Shah

Age: 50

Profession: Businessman

I was 21 then. I was part of the Avishakar Academy Of Performing Arts. We were travelling to the USA for a series of performances. Neerja seemed like just any other airhostess until we reached Karachi and the terrorists took over. We had no choice but to follow the terrorists’ instructions. We were told to raise our hands and sit. Then we were told to rest our heads on our hands and bend down. We sat in that position for almost three hours.

After a point we couldn’t help but plead them to let us use the washrooms. Neerja swayed the terrorists to allow us to use the washroom telling them that the passengers would cooperate better if they were allowed. She persuaded them to let the children drink water too. Around 4 pm, we were served some cold drinks and snacks.

The most incredible memory is that of Neerja gesturing the passengers to hide their American passports. It was an American aircraft and Americans were their target. Had the terrorists got all the US passports initially, the picture could have been different and even more drastic.

One baby was crying continuously. One of the terrorists picked up the baby and started strutting up and down with a machine gun in his hand and a rifle hanging from his shoulder. He had grenades on him. I can’t imagine what the baby’s mother must have gone through then.

When people began escaping, the terrorists, who initially walked in wearing airport security uniforms, changed their clothes and tried to escape with the rest of us. At the airport we identified them and they were captured by the security officials.

 Neerja was standing right next to the exit. She could have easily been the first one to escape but she chose to push everyone else out. She went back to save the kids who were stuck inside and got shot from behind. She slid out the exit upside down. When her dead body arrived in Mumbai, she looked fresh and beautiful because all her wounds were on her back.

Had there been a VIP or a minister on our plane; all the lives would have been saved. We had a screening of Neerja for the survivors. We stood still and numb, long after the end credits rolled.

"My mother died while shielding and protecting me. I was drenched in her blood. The stench of her blood haunts me even today."

Khanjan Dalal

Age: 40

Profession: Artist

I was 12 then and travelling with my mother Trupti Dalal. How I connect my mother to Neerja is that they both died saving children and at the same time. My mother was trying to save me while Neerja saved other children.

I wanted to use the loo. I was told to go alone and on my way back, I came across a water dispenser. I told the terrorist I wanted some water. He held the gun in one hand and with the other he gave me water. On the hand he was he giving me water and on the other he was still a threat to my life. It was a strange feeling. I saw Neerja closely when she was collecting passports and another time when they were serving us refreshments.

When the terrorists opened fire, my mother fell down injured,while trying to protect and shield me from the bullets. When the doors were thrown open, I realised I had jumped onto the wing. Another person who was on the wings jumped down and broke his legs. I climbed back into the aircraft and then ran to the rear exit. I ran bare feet for almost two kilometres on the tarmac. I realised I was completely drenched in my mother’s blood. The stench of her blood haunts me even today. A family from Karachi later got me clothes and shoes. I experienced compassion from a stranger, that too a Pakistani. There was complete chaos at the Sahar airport when we returned. We had to wait on the tarmac for 45 minutes for a transport vehicle to carry my mother’s coffin. My father, Kalpesh Dalal, was extremely disturbed. Even after 30 years, he breaks down at the memory.

(Late Trupti Dalal)

“An airhostess, who felt unwell, too lay down next to Trupti. One of the hijackers removed a blanket and covered her with it because she was wearing a short skirt”

Mehul Shah

Age: 53

Profession: Chief Finance Officer

I was 23 then. That fateful night our tickets were not confirmed. Maybe, it was a sign from God to avoid flying but somehow we managed to take the flight. When our flight landed in Karachi, the hijackers entered the aircraft wearing security guard uniforms. My co-passenger, a German national, woke me up informing that our plane was hijacked. We were pushed to another compartment of the aircraft. They shot a certain US citizen by the name of Rajesh.

I remember seeing Neerja each time the terrorists asked her to give us instructions. When the airhostess’ were asked to collect our passports, she was smart enough to not collect the US passports. One lady amongst us, Trupti, complained of a headache. She was allowed to lie down. An airhostess, who felt unwell, too lay down next to Trupti. One of the hijackers removed a blanket and covered her with it because she was wearing a short skirt. They were not aggressive as such but panic started after the power supply went off. The air conditioner stopped, the lights went off. In panic mode, they opened gunfire. I hid below the seats so I was saved. When the firing stopped, I ran to the front and someone pushed me out from the exit. I realised I had survived. I started running towards the terminus. A passenger informed that his mother had probably had died inside. We saw another lady, Utpala Desai, coming out seriously injured. She was hit with a bullet in her skull and had injuries on her chest and hands. We put her in the ambulance. We were informed that all those who hadn’t made it to the tarmac had died inside the aircraft. We were put up in a hotel. A certain Mr. Mohammadbhai, a businessman from Karachi, known to a relative of Utpala came to us asking if he could help. He made me wear a burkha and we stepped out as the security wasn’t allowing me to step out. We went to all the hospitals looking for our people. We found a few people but not all. He showed so much grace in trouble, barring borders and perceptions.

“They threw the hand grenades too, one of which fell on my friend Rupal, sitting next to me. She fell on my shoulder, while I felt a hot ball of fire going up my feet. Shama, another friend, had two bullet injuries in her head.”

Janki Vyas Vasant

Profession: Founder of Samvedna, an NGO

Age: 51

At the tender age of 20, I saw death so closely, losing two of my close friend and a teacher. That incident changed my outlook towards life. I was from a business family, married into another business family but I chose to start an NGO, providing education for the underprivileged after going through this tragedy. The way I looked at life changed.

I remember the terrorists dashing in from the front door near the pantry, holding Neerja at gun point. I could see the terrorists walking up and down the aisle, trying to negotiate. The main leader, who was directing the other three men, was in charge of our compartment. We were asked to hold our hands behind and bow down. But for how long could one possibly bow down? We used to give up that position for a bit, or talk and whisper to each other. That’s when the aggressive terrorist came up to us with his gun, warning us not to talk. Being fond of writing, I was jotting down my feelings on a piece of paper. He caught me doing that and asked whether I was a journalist. He stopped me from writing. We were aware they took hold of Rajesh, a US national. Their guns were on ‘silent’, so we didn’t realise he was killed and thrown out. Otherwise we’d have panicked. Towards the end, they were frustrated because they were looking for pilots and there were none.

After a point when it was dark, this leader, I remember him being addressed as Mustafa, said his prayers in a high pitch. As soon as his prayer was over, they started firing indiscriminately. Those who were sitting straight got shot in the legs while others who had ducked got shot in the heads as their guns were pointed downwards. They threw the hand grenades too, one of which fell on my friend Rupal (18), sitting next to me. She fell on my shoulder, while I felt a hot ball of fire going up my feet. Shama, another friend, had two bullet injuries in her head. The flight attendants were supportive, smart and composed throughout. They gave us strength. They were at every exit trying to push us out of the aircraft. Later, my friend and I had held another injured friend between our shoulders and escaped. We landed on the wing. There was one airhostess there helping people jump. My friend was drenched in blood. I knew we couldn’t jump down from the high wing. We went back inside trying to exit from another door during which we lost each other. Then I was pushed gently from an exit and I landed on the tarmac. I realised I couldn’t stand. I had a bullet injury on the right leg and the whole of the left leg up to my thigh was burnt with the grenade. The adrenaline was doing its work until I realised I had a major injury. The great eye opener though was the compassion shown by Pakistanis. They had only genuine feelings for us and our country.

"Neerja was an excellent airhostess. She informed the pilots about the hijack and that’s how the pilots could escape. She was calm and responsible right up to the end. Pity that she was shot at."

Suresh Gopalkrishnan

Profession: Businessman, Chennai

Age: 55

I was a carefree and free-spirited 23 year old boy, working with a German company, on my way to Paris. Working hard and making money was on my mind until I went through this incident. It changed my perception. I turned more patriotic, pious and mind you not religious… rather spiritual after this incident. I became more courageous and confidant to face any situation in life later.

Neerja was an excellent airhostess. She informed the pilots about the hijack and that’s how the pilots could escape. Had they not, the terrorists would have taken the flight somewhere and blown up the aircraft. She was calm and responsible right up to the end. Pity that she was shot at. Those hours were torturous. After the terrorists opened fire, I lay down flat fearing I could get killed any moment. Somehow I managed to escape from the aircraft. There was a buzz that they had a time bomb on them, which could explode. I could have run to the terminus. But I opted to carry a young lady, who was severely injured and sadly died in my arms.

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