IC 814 Hijack. The Kandhaar Hijack.

-



Indian Airlines Flight IC 814. 

 Indian Airlines Flight 814, commonly known as IC 814, was an Indian Airlines Airbus A300 that was hijacked on 24 December 1999 by five members of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. The passenger flight which was en route from Kathmandu to Delhi, was taken over shortly after it entered the Indian airspace at about 16:53 IST. The aircraft carried 190 occupants which included 179 passengers and 11 crew members including Captain Devi Sharan, first officer Rajinder Kumar, and flight engineer Anil Kumar Jaggia.


Indian Airlines Flight 814




Hijacking

Date

24 December 1999 – 31 December 1999



Hijacking

Site

Hijacked in Indian airspace en-route from Kathmandu to Delhi; Later landed at Amritsar, Lahore, Dubai and Kandahar

Aircraft

The aircraft involved, VT-EDW, seen a few days after the hijacking

Aircraft type

Airbus A300B2-101

Operator

Indian Airlines

IATA flight No.

IC814

ICAO flight No.

IAC814

Call sign

INDAIR 814

Registration

VT-EDW

Flight origin

Tribhuvan International Airport

Destination

Indira Gandhi International Airport

Occupants

190

Passengers

179 (including 5 hijackers)

Crew

11

Fatalities

1

Injuries

17

Survivors

189

The aircraft flew to a series of locations Amritsar, Lahore, and Dubai. While in Dubai, the hijackers released 27 passengers including a critically injured male hostage, who had been stabbed by the hijackers multiple times. Later, on 25 December, the hijackers forced the aircraft to land in Kandahar in Afghanistan. During the time, most of Afghanistan including the Kandahar airport where the hijacked plane landed, was under the control of Taliban. Taliban men had encircled the aircraft and the further presence of two officers from the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan made it difficult for any external intervention.



On December 27, after two days of internal discussion, the Indian Government sent a team of negotiators headed by Vivek Katju from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which also included officials Ajit Doval and C.D. Sahay. The motive for the hijacking was to secure the release of various Pakistani prisoners held under terrorism charges in Indian prisons. The hijacking is seen as a part of the millennium attack plots in late 1999 and early 2000 by Al-Qaeda linked terrorists. After days of negotiations, India agreed to release three terrorists – Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar – in exchange for the hostages.



The hostage crisis ended on 31 December when the passengers and crew were released after the Indian Government handed the three terrorists over to the Taliban. The three released terrorists and the hijackers were driven to the Pakistan border by the Taliban, and they have since been suspected to be involved in other terrorism related incidents such as the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, 2002 kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl, 2016 Pathankot attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack. The Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) charged ten people in relation to case (out of whom whereabouts were unknown for seven including the five hijackers), of which only two were convicted and sent to life imprisonment.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Russia-Ukraine War: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Ongoing Conflict.

-
Image
  The Russia-Ukraine War: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Ongoing Conflict Introduction  Causes of the Russia-Ukraine War Major Phases of the War (2022-2025) Military and Casualty Statistics Major military supplies Humanitarian Crisis and Economic Impact Geopolitical Consequences Possible Outcomes and Future Scenarios Conclusion  Introduction The Russia-Ukraine war, which began on February 24, 2022, has become one of the most significant conflicts of the 21st century. It has reshaped international geopolitics, impacted global economies, and caused devastating human and military losses. The war has led to hundreds of thousands of casualties, the displacement of millions, and economic sanctions affecting both Russia and Western countries. As of March 2025, the conflict continues with fluctuating battlefronts, peace talks, and geopolitical maneuvering. This article provides a detailed analysis of the war, including its causes, key events, military strategies, humanitarian im...
Read more

Detailed Report on the 2025 India-Pakistan Clashes:The Pahalgam Attack,Diplomatic and Military Actions,Operation Sindoor and Retaliatory Strikes.

-
Image
Detailed Report on the 2025 India-Pakistan Clashes.  Introduction  The 2025 India-Pakistan clashes represent one of the most significant escalations in tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors since their last major crisis in 2019. Sparked by a deadly terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, the conflict rapidly escalated into cross-border military engagements, missile strikes, and a severe diplomatic crisis. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the events, their causes, the military and diplomatic developments, the role of international actors, and the broader implications, drawing on available sources and critical analysis. Background and Context India and Pakistan have a long history of conflict, primarily centered on the disputed region of Kashmir, which both nations claim in its entirety but administer in parts. Since their partition in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars (1947-48, 1965, and 1971), the Kargil conflict in 1999, and nu...
Read more

Protecting Our Children: Combating Exploitation Through Awareness, Law, and Action.

-
Image
Child Exploitation: Prevention, Laws, Impact, and Solutions Introduction Understanding Child Exploitation Forms of Child Exploitation Impact on Victims Legal Measures and Global Efforts National Laws and Policies Community and Educational Initiatives Role of Technology Companies Conclusion References Introduction   Child exploitation, particularly child sexual abuse, is a grave crime that inflicts long-term psychological, emotional, and social harm on victims. It is a global issue that demands strong legal frameworks, preventive measures, and collective societal efforts to combat. This article explores the various aspects of child exploitation, the impact on victims, the legal measures in place, and the steps society can take to prevent and eliminate this crime. Understanding Child Exploitation Child exploitation includes a broad range of abuses, including child labor, trafficking, and sexual exploitation. Among these, child sexual abuse and its online distribution have become incr...
Read more