A Deep Dive into The Kandahar Hijack: 'IC 814' Series Review

New Delhi: The hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 in December 1999 remains one of the most harrowing incidents in Indian aviation history. The week-long hostage crisis, which unfolded across multiple locations, has become a textbook example of how not to handle a hijack. The convoluted way the situation was managed highlighted the lack of preparedness and coordination among the agencies involved, turning the crisis into a global spectacle of inefficiency.

The hijack began when five masked men, armed and dangerous, took control of the plane shortly after it took off from Kathmandu. The 180 people on board, including crew and passengers, endured seven days of unimaginable terror. As the plane moved through various airports—Kathmandu, Amritsar, Lahore, Dubai, and finally Kandahar—the hijackers’ tempers flared, leading to the tragic death of one passenger and severe injury to another. The ordeal was a desperate attempt by the hijackers to secure the release of militants imprisoned in India, forcing the government into a tight corner.

Based on the book Flight Into Fear by Captain Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury, the series IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack, directed by Anubhav Sinha, meticulously recreates the tension-filled week. The series delves deep into the chaotic decision-making processes, the struggles of the passengers, and the frantic efforts of Indian agencies to resolve the crisis. Through a gripping narrative, the series not only revisits this dark chapter in history but also serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching consequences of that fateful week, repercussions of which are still felt today.