NEW DELHI, OCT, 5 Reuter: The Indian stewardess who was killed helping passengers to escape from a hijacked Pan Am airliner last month in Karachi received her country’s highest civilian award for bravery today.
Neerja Mishra, 23, who became heroine in the National Press after the September 5 hijack in which 22 people were killed, was riven the Ashok Chakra Award.
The citation said Mishra alerted the crew when four gunmen burst into the plane at Karachi airport. Her action allowed the Captain to escape and immobilize the aircraft.
She helped calm the terrified passengers and when the aircraft was plunged into darkness she ‘opened an emergency hatch and helped 40 people to safety before a gunman grabbed her from behind and shot her, it said.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 10, 1986
