The Incredible True Story Behind New Netflix Series The Kandahar Hijack
A new Netflix series, IC814: The Kandahar Hijack, about a 1999 flight that made history by becoming the longest hijack in Indian aviation history, is based on the true story of flight IC814. The hijacking caused a seven-day negotiation that included a diversion into foreign airspace. The series will be available to stream on Netflix beginning on August 29.
Based On The True Story Of The 1999 Hijacking
IC814: The Kandahar Hijack follows the events of December 24, 1999, when Captain Devi Sharan’s flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi was interrupted 40 minutes into the flight by five hijackers who forced him to fly into Pakistani airspace. Captain Sharan then made a miraculous landing at Amritsar Airport in India with just about ten minutes of fuel left and no clearance from ground control.
Despite trying to take as long as possible to refuel the plane, the captain was again instructed to get clearance to land in Pakistan, with the hijackers threatening to kill ten hostages if their demands weren’t met.
A Terrifying Flight
The hijackers begin to kill hostages as Kandahar Hijack shows Sharan being forced to head again towards Lahore, Pakistan, in spite of still not having obtained clearance and with no lights or navigational aids from air traffic control. After Lahore, the plane diverted to Dubai but was again refused clearance to land and ended up touching down in the UAE, where 27 hostages, including one deceased, were allowed to disembark.
Following this stop, the flight continued to Kandahar Airport, which at the time was controlled by the Taliban and where the remaining six days of the ordeal were spent by the hostages, hijackers, and crew in tense negotiations.
Dramatizes Every Point Of View
The upcoming series, Kandahar Hijack follows the events of the hijacking and subsequent tense negotiations from the perspectives of the hostages, government officials, and flight crews. Series creators Anubhav Sinha and Trishant Srivastava conducted interviews with hostages and met with the Deli rescue mission leaders who were involved in the negotiations. Previous works on the Kandahar hijacking, including vlogs, articles, and documentaries, were all sourced in the making of the series.
Based On A Book By One Of The Survivors
The series is based on a book by Captain Devi Sharan, who heroically saved the lives of most of his passengers, completing a series of high-pressure maneuvers, including a few emergency landings. The book, titled Flight Into Fear is told from the perspective of those who witnessed the events of the longest takeover of an Indian flight ever firsthand. Devi Sharan met actor Vijay Varma who plays him in the series, giving a nod to his role in the incredible events of the Kandahar hijacking.
Coming Soon To Netflix
The cast of Kandahar Hijack includes Dia Mirza as journalist Shalini Chandra, Ellie Flory Faucet as Kathy, a journalist following the story, Ujjwal Gauraha as Major Malik, and Karan Desai as the flight’s Co-Pilot, Sunil Sachdeva. Series creator Anubhav Sinha is also the director of the show. The series premiered on August 26 at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourn.
IC814: The Kandahar Hijack arrives on Netflix on August 29.
