Kandahar IC 814 Hijack in 1999: Indian Airlines Flight

IC 814 Hijack detailed background story:

On December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 was flying from Kathmandu, Nepal to New Delhi, India. The plane was an Airbus A300 and had 176 passengers and 15 crew members on board. Everything was normal until the plane entered Indian airspace. At this point, five armed men took control of the plane and here the IC 814 Hijack plan was initiated.

These hijackers were part of a Pakistani terrorist group called Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. They had knives, guns, and bombs. Their first demand was to change the plane’s destination to Amritsar, India, so they could refuel and leave Indian airspace.

What Happened During IC 814 Hijack?

1. IC 814 Hijack Starts:
   • Around 5:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST), the hijackers attacked the cockpit and took over the plane.
   • They told the pilot, Captain Devi Sharan, to fly to Lahore, Pakistan. However, the plane didn’t have enough fuel, so it first landed in Amritsar.
2. Amritsar Stop:
   • The plane landed at Raja Sansi Airport (Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport) in Amritsar at about 7:00 PM.
   • Indian officials delayed refueling the plane to try and find a way to deal with the hijackers, but nothing worked.
   • The hijackers got worried because the plane wasn’t refueled, so they threatened to kill passengers. Forced by the situation, the plane took off again without more fuel leading to next step of IC 814 hijack.
3. Flying Internationally:
   • The plane flew to Lahore, Pakistan. At first, Pakistani authorities said the plane couldn’t land, but the hijackers threatened to crash the plane. Pakistan allowed an emergency landing to refuel the plane.
   • After refueling, the plane went to Dubai. In Dubai, 27 passengers were let go, including a woman who had been stabbed by the hijackers to show they were serious.
4. Final Stop in Kandahar:
   • On December 25, the plane landed at Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan, which was then controlled by the Taliban. This was the final destination of IC 814 hijack.
   • The Taliban surrounded the plane. They said they wanted to keep the passengers safe, but many believed they were helping the hijackers.

Demands and Negotiations

The hijackers asked for:

• The release of Maulana Masood Azhar, a leader of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.
• The release of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, who were in Indian prisons.
• A ransom of $200 million.

Indian negotiators worked hard to meet these demands because the lives of the passengers were in danger. After several days of talks and under great pressure, the Indian government agreed to release the three prisoners.

Resolution and Aftermath

At the time of the IC 814 hijacking in December 1999, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of India. The incident tested his leadership and the government’s ability to handle a complex and high-pressure hostage situation.

On December 31, 1999, the hostages were freed in exchange for the three prisoners. The hijackers were given safe passage and reportedly fled to Pakistan.

1. Losses:
   • One passenger, Rupin Katyal, was killed during the hijacking.
   • Many passengers suffered from extreme stress and trauma.
2. Impact:
   • The incident showed that there were security problems at Kathmandu’s airport, as the hijackers were able to bring weapons onto the plane.
   • India improved its flight security by adding armed guards on planes and better screening of passengers.
3. Consequences:
   • The Taliban’s involvement in the hijacking hurt India’s relationships with Afghanistan and Pakistan.
   • Maulana Masood Azhar later started a new terrorist group called Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which was involved in several attacks in India.

Legacy of IC 814 Hijack

The IC 814 hijack. is a tragic event that shows how complicated hostage situations can be, especially when terrorism and politics are involved. It had a lasting effect on India’s aviation security, strategies to fight terrorism, and the public’s sense of safety. Even years later, people still discuss the hijacking, debating the difficult choices between saving lives and protecting national security.

Check out 10 major incidents in India from the 1990s: https://www.nostalgicposts.com/10-major-incidents-in-india-from-the-1990s/