Neerja Bhanot was a 22-year-old flight attendant working on Pan Am Flight 73 when it was hijacked by terrorists during a layover in 1986.

Soon after taking control, the terrorists killed an Indian-American traveler and discarded his body outside the plane.

They ordered Bhanot to gather the passengers' passports to single out Americans.

However, she concealed the identities of the 43 Americans on the flight by stashing their passports under seats and discarding others.

After a tense 17-hour standoff, the hijackers began shooting and setting off explosives.

Bhanot bravely opened the plane's doors, and rather than escaping herself, she helped passengers evacuate.

Tragically, she lost her life while shielding three American children from gunfire.

One of the kids she safeguarded grew up to become an airline captain, crediting Bhanot as his inspiration.

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