Terror in the Sky: The Hijacking of IC-814 That Shook India

The hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 remains one of the most harrowing aviation crises in India’s history. The Airbus A300, carrying 190 passengers and crew, was hijacked on December 24 after entering Indian airspace while en route from Kathmandu to Delhi via Lucknow. What followed was a tense seven-hour ordeal across multiple countries, ending in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where hostages were held through Christmas Day.

The flight took off from Tribhuvan International Airport at 4.25 pm, already delayed by two hours. At 4.55 pm, shortly after entering Indian airspace, hijackers linked to Kashmir-based militant groups seized control. They demanded the release of five jailed militants. The aircraft entered Pakistani airspace at 6.20 pm but was denied permission to land in Lahore. Indian airports including Chandigarh, Jammu, and Amritsar were placed on high alert.

With dangerously low fuel, the plane hovered over Amritsar before being allowed to land briefly for refuelling at 7.20 pm. During this time, hijackers threatened to kill passengers if refuelling was halted. Despite the risks, the aircraft took off again at 7.49 pm and eventually landed in Lahore, then flew on to Dubai and finally Kandahar.

During the journey, 27 passengers—mostly women and children—were released in Dubai, while a diabetic patient and the body of passenger Rupin Katyal, who had been stabbed, were handed over in Kandahar. Taliban officials later confirmed contact with Indian authorities and sought United Nations involvement. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee asserted that India would not bow to terrorism while ensuring passenger safety.

The crisis ended on December 31, after India released three imprisoned terrorists—Masood Azhar, Omar Sheikh, and Mushtaq Zargar—securing the freedom of all hostages.