IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack—Netflix’s New Series Reveals Shocking Details Of 1999 Terror Crisis

Netflix's latest release, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, premiered on August 29, shedding light on one of India's most harrowing aviation crises. The series chronicles the December 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814, a significant event in the country's aviation history.

The Hijacking Incident

On December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines flight IC 814 was hijacked by five masked terrorists approximately 40 minutes after departing from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, bound for Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. Captain Devi Sharan, the flight's pilot, was coerced into flying the aircraft to Lahore, as reported by Firstpost.

Despite the low fuel levels, Pakistan initially denied permission for the plane to land. The aircraft was diverted to Amritsar for refueling, where it was alleged that the Indian government's response was sluggish, leading to the flight's departure from Indian soil before National Security Guard (NSG) commandos could intervene effectively.

Diplomatic and Tactical Challenges

The hijacked plane was ultimately directed to Lahore and then to Dubai, where 27 passengers were released, including the body of 25-year-old Rupin Katyal, who had been fatally injured. The plane continued to Kandahar, Afghanistan, under Taliban control.

The Indian government faced intense criticism for its handling of the crisis, particularly for negotiating with the Taliban, a regime it did not officially recognize. The hijackers, associated with the Pakistan-based Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), demanded the release of 36 terrorists and a $200 million ransom. Despite initial resistance, India eventually agreed to release five terrorists, including Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and Maulana Masood Azhar, in exchange for the hostages, as per media reports.

Controversies and Consequences

The deal struck with the Taliban led to accusations of diplomatic failure and criticism of the Indian government, particularly the Vajpayee administration. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who oversaw the operation, described it as a significant diplomatic setback.

Post-release, the terrorists were provided safe passage by the Taliban to Pakistan, where Masood Azhar later founded the terror organization Jaish-e-Mohammed. This group has since been linked to numerous attacks against India, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2016 Pathankot Air Force base attack, and the 2019 Pulwama attack. The released militants have also been implicated in the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the kidnapping and murder of journalist Daniel Pearl, as reported by Firstpost.

The Netflix series delves into these events, offering a detailed portrayal of the hijacking, its aftermath, and the broader implications for Indian diplomacy and counterterrorism efforts.