At 22, flight attendant Neerja Bhanot faced armed hijackers on Pan Am Flight 73. She alerted pilots, hid passports, calmed passengers for 17 hours. When gunfire erupted at the emergency exit, she could've escaped—but stayed to shield three children with her body. She took the bullets. 359 lived. True heroism means choosing others over yourself. AI-animated historical photo. Educational recreation — not real footage. ~Ifestory | Ifestory