The story of IC 814, the Kandahar Hijack, is one of the most harrowing incidents in Indian aviation history, here are some things to know.
1
On December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines Flight IC 814, en route from Kathmandu, Nepal, to New Delhi, India, was hijacked by five armed men.
2
The hijacking of IC 814 caused immediate panic and confusion both on board and on the ground.
3
The hijacked IC 814 finally landed in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where the Taliban, who had strong ties with the hijacker.
4
The Indian government faced immense pressure as the hijackers executed one passenger, Rupin Katyal, to prove their seriousness.
5
After seven days of negotiations and growing public outcry, the Indian government reluctantly agreed to release the three militants.
6
The freed passengers and crew of IC 814 returned to India on January 1, 2000, marking the end of a traumatic week.
7
The incident also exposed vulnerabilities in India’s security apparatus and significantly changed aviation security protocols.