The Untold Story behind IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack

The Indian Airlines Flight 814 hijack, also known as IC 814, remains one of the most harrowing and controversial events in Indian aviation history.

The incident, which unfolded from December 24, 1999, to January 1, 2000, has recently been brought back into the spotlight with Anubhav Sinha’s Netflix series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, released on August 29, 2024. aviation movies on netflix Adapted from the book Flight Into Fear by Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury, the series delves into the seven-day ordeal that captured global attention.

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The Hijacking: A Brief Overview

On December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines Flight 814 departed from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, bound for Delhi, India. Aboard were 180 passengers, including Roberto Giori, the then-owner of De La Rue Giori, a major player in the world’s currency-printing industry. Shortly after takeoff, the flight was hijacked by five armed men, who took control of the plane and its occupants.

The hijackers’ demands were clear: they wanted to be taken to Afghanistan, where they sought to negotiate the release of their comrades imprisoned in India.plane movies on netflix, As the plane was rerouted and forced to land in multiple locations, including a final stop in Taliban-controlled Kandahar, the crisis unfolded over the course of a week.

Key Figures and Events

Among the passengers was Shashi Bhushan Singh Tomar, a RAW officer and the then First Secretary in the Indian embassy in Kathmandu. Tomar was connected to N.K. Singh, secretary to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His presence added a layer of complexity to the already tense situation.

During the hijack, the hijackers demanded that passengers express their gratitude to the Afghanistan government. They collected money from the passengers, which was later given to Anuj Sharma, who was tasked with commissioning a memento of the hijacking for a museum in Kandahar.

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Indian authorities faced numerous challenges. Taliban fighters surrounded the aircraft to prevent any military intervention from India. This situation was compounded when Indian chief negotiator Ajit Doval and his team discovered the presence of two Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officers at the scene, one a lieutenant colonel and the other a major. Doval later suggested that the hijackers’ support from the ISI made a swift resolution of the crisis more difficult.

The Resolution

The standoff reached its climax on January 1, 2000, when, after eight tense days, the Indian government made the controversial decision to release three terrorists—Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Masood Azhar, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar—in exchange for the hostages’ freedom. This resolution, though saving the lives of the passengers, sparked widespread criticism and debate regarding the negotiation tactics and the implications of releasing high-profile terrorists.

Cultural Impact

The hijacking remains a significant historical event, not just because of its dramatic unfolding but also due to its broader implications for international security and terrorism. Anubhav Sinha’s series sheds light on this complex narrative, providing viewers with an in-depth look at the tactical, diplomatic, and personal challenges faced during the crisis. The series captures the chilling and thrilling aspects of the hijacking, offering a compelling story that was previously untold in such detail.