A Netflix series focuses on an Indian Airlines flight that was hijacked on Christmas Eve 1999.
The show adapted from the book Escape into fear written by Captain Devi Sharan (who was on board as a pilot), will follow the flight from its departure from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
The plane was en route to New Delhi, but was hijacked by five men 40 minutes into the flight.
The show is based on the book Flight Into Fear by Captain Devi Sharan (Netflix).
The series, IC814: The Hijacking of Kandahartells the story from multiple perspectives, including that of Sharan, the frightened passengers and crew on board, and the negotiators dealing with the incident on the ground.
It is a truly shocking story that recalls how the flight was forced to make several landings on the orders of the hijackers – including in Amritsar (India), Lahore (Pakistan), Dubai and Afghanistan.
When the flight finally landed in Afghanistan, 27 of the 176 passengers were freed.
One person was killed during the kidnapping and several others were injured.
The hostages remained in Afghanistan for the next six days while negotiations took place.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded the release of 36 prisoners in exchange for the safe release of the remaining hostages.
A 41-year-old passenger reported: “I must have fallen asleep around 3 a.m. I woke up at 8 a.m. For breakfast I had the usual Afghan bread. I didn’t feel like eating. I was afraid that the millennium would end in a few hours and I would miss the celebrations. I was thinking about many things.”
Negotiations eventually led to the release of the hostages in exchange for three prisoners, but the government was criticized for its handling of the crisis.
“IC 814: The Kandahar Hijacking is a gripping tale of one of the longest hijackings in Indian history and a true account of a massive international crisis,” said Monika Shergill of Netflix India.
“Directed by master director Anubhav Sinha, known for his gritty and realistic films, the series doesn’t just recount the events; it immerses you in the emotional whirlwind of a nation gripped by fear, hope and despair. The powerful storytelling, combined with stunning visual effects and breathtaking performances from a stellar cast, makes this a must-see.”
The flight at Kandahar Airport (AK AHMEDZAI/AFP via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, creator Anubhav Sinha told Variety, “Trishant, the writer, and I jumped into it because we thought most of the information was available online. Documentaries and vlogs were being made, articles were being written, so we wanted to go deeper into the story to get a juicier bite.
“We met officials leading the rescue mission from Delhi and passengers and crew told us the story on the plane. Adrian Levy, a well-known journalist, author and filmmaker from London, came on board and a whole new international canvas unfolded before us.
“What happened in those seven days turned out to be a gripping story, through scary and thrilling tactical and diplomatic maneuvers that needed to be told. Audiences need to know inside and out this story that has never been told before, with a cast that I don’t know if I can put together again.”
The series will be released on Netflix on Thursday, August 29th.
