The Story of IC 814 the Kandahar Hijack

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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

Hijacking of IC 814

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

Initial Terror and Confusion

The hijacking of IC 814 caused immediate panic and confusion  both on board and on the ground.

3

Negotiations in Kandahar

The hijacked IC 814 finally landed  in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where  the Taliban, who had strong ties  with the hijacker.

4

Demands and Pressure

The Indian government faced immense pressure as the hijackers executed one passenger, Rupin Katyal, to prove their seriousness.

5

Release of Militants

After seven days of negotiations and growing public outcry, the Indian government reluctantly agreed to release the three militants.

6

Return of Hostages

The freed passengers and crew of IC 814 returned to India on January 1, 2000, marking the end of a  traumatic week.

7

Aftermath 

The incident also exposed vulnerabilities in India’s security apparatus and significantly  changed aviation security protocols.