Netflix released its latest real story-based crime drama, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack on August 29. It is a six-episode series directed by Anubhav Sinha. The series explores the harrowing events of the Indian Airlines Flight 814 hijacking from December 1999.

The incident remains one of the longest and most complex aircraft hijacks in Indian aviation history, lasting a tough seven days. The series has garnered a lot of attention but not without controversy. 

True story behind the IC 814 hijacking 

Indian Airline Flight IC 814, an Airbus A300 took off from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal on 24 December 1999. The flight was heading to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.

Just 40 minutes into the flight, five armed hijackers took control of the aircraft, diverting it to multiple places before finally landing in Kandahar, Afghanistan. 

The hijackers were members of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), a terrorist group from Pakistan. Initially, they demanded the release of 36 terrorists held in Indian prisons, including Masood Azhar, who later founded the Jaish-e-Mohammed, but it later reduced to these three prisoners.

They also demanded the release of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) leader Sajad Afghani’s remains and a ransom of $200 million.  

The plane was taken to Amritsar, Lahore, Dubai and eventually Kandahar, where it remained under Taliban rule. 

The Netflix Series and its controversies 

The Netflix series has a star-studded cast including Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah and Pankaj Kapur. The series shows the intense drama and negotiations during the hijacking. However, some people have criticized how the hijackers are depicted in the series. 

The series refers to the hijackers by the names Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola and Shankar. This choice has sparked controversy as critics say it misrepresents the real names of the terrorists.  

According to the statement by the Union Ministry on January 6, 2000, the real names of the hijackers were 

• Ibrahim Athar, Bahawalpur 

• Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Gulshan Iqbal, Karachi 

• Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Defence Area, Karachi 

• Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, Akhtar Colony, Karachi 

• Shakir, Sukkur city 

If you haven’t watched the trailer of Netflix series Indian Airline Flight IC 814 trailer yet, here’s the trailer: 

Public Reaction and Controversy 

Using codenames instead of the real names of the hijackers has led to lot of backlash and criticism. Some critics believe this choice hides the true incidents and reasons of the terrorists.  

Historian Hindol Sengupta has spoken out against the series, claiming that it allegedly glorifies the hijackers and ignores the impacts of the hijacking. 

Veteran journalist Vir Sanghvi criticized the show for acting as propaganda for Pakistan’s spy agency the ISI. He claimed that it misrepresented the events. 

The head of the BJP’s IT Cell, Amit Malviya voiced his anger on social media platform X. He accused that the series has allegedly whitewashed the terrorists’ identities and misled viewers about the hijacking. 

What Happened During the Hijacking? 

According to reports, the hijacking took place on December 24, 1999, and the captivity continued till December 31, 1999.

During this period, 191 passengers and crew members onboard faced intense mental and physical strain. The hijackers injured several passengers, including a 25-year-old man who was stabbed brutally multiple times. 

The solving of the crisis involved difficult negotiations. The Taliban initially refused to allow Indian special forces to step in. After prolonged discussions, the demands changed to the release of three high-profile dangerous prisoners: 

• Maulana Masood Azhar 

• Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh 

• Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar 

These individuals were later involved in various terrorist activities, including the 2019 Pulwama Attack and the 2001 Indian Parliament Attack.

Who is Captain Devi Sharan: The Unsung Hero? 

The series focuses on Captain Devi Sharan, played by Vijay Varma. Sharan, the fight commander becomes a symbol of bravery and resilience. Despite extreme stress, he manages to keep his crew and passengers as safe as possible under tough circumstances. 

Captain Sharan shared his experience through his book, Flight into Fear, co-written with Srinjoy Chowdhary. In the book, he detailed the traumatic events he faced and the courage he mustered throughout the crisis. Varma, who met Captain Sharan during the filming, has mentioned how deeply the pilot’s story affected him.