“IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack” is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language crime thriller drama that chronicles the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814. The six-episode mini-series is based on the book “Flight Into Fear: The Captain’s Story,” co-authored by Devi Sharan, the captain of the hijacked flight, and journalist Srinjoy Chowdhury.
The series is set in 1999, during the hijacking of a passenger plane by five attackers, which led to multiple re-routings before the aircraft eventually landed in Taliban-controlled territory. The series captures the unfolding drama, from the chaos aboard the plane to the frantic efforts of government officials trying to manage the situation. The hijacking ordeal lasted seven days.
Cast
- Vijay Varma (Gully Boy) as Captain Sharan Dev
- Pankaj Kapur (Mausam) as Vijaybhan Singh, the Minister of External Affairs
- Naseeruddin Shah (Ishqiya) as Vinay Kaul, the Cabinet Secretary of India and head of India’s Crisis Management Group
- Arvind Swamy (Thani Oruvan) as DRS, the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs
- Kumud Mishra (Thappad) as Ranjan Mishra, the Joint Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing
- Manoj Pahwa as Mukul Mohan, a director at the Intelligence Bureau
Is it a true story?
Yes, the series is inspired by a real-life hijacking. On December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines flight IC 814, carrying over 175 passengers, departed from Kathmandu, Nepal, headed for Delhi, India. Shortly after entering Indian airspace, the plane was seized by five masked hijackers.
The airplane finally touched down in Kandahar, Afghanistan, which was then under Taliban rule, after making a number of impromptu stops in Amritsar, India; Lahore, Pakistan; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. After seven days of hijacking, the Indian authorities worked with the hijackers to reach an agreement that resulted in the release of three militants—including Masood Azhar—in exchange for the passengers.
What is the controversy surrounding the series?
The series has sparked controversy, particularly on social media, regarding the depiction of the hijackers’ names.
Some India media claimed that Netflix was summoned by the federal government over the issue.
The controversy arose after viewers criticized the series for portraying the hijackers using common Hindu names like Bhola and Shankar, whereas their real names were Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, and Shakir— all from Pakistan.
BJP leader Amit Malviya expressed concern on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that using these “non-Muslim” aliases could lead people to mistakenly believe that Hindus were responsible for the hijacking of IC 814.
What is the reality regarding hijackers’ names?
The series remains factually accurate. A statement by India’s Home Ministry in 2000 confirmed that the hijackers used these aliases both inside and outside the aircraft. The statement said that the hijackers invariably addressed one another as (1) Chief, (2) Doctor, (3) Burger, (4) Bhola, and (5) Shankar during the flight.
Netflix’s response
Following outcry on social media, Netflix announced on Tuesday that it will be adding new disclaimers to an Indian series about a plane hijack.
In a statement, Netflix India Vice President of Content Monika Shergill said, “The opening disclaimer has been updated to include the real and code names of the hijackers for the benefit of audiences unfamiliar with the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814.”
