The hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 on December 24, 1999, remains one of the most harrowing chapters in Indian aviation history. This flight, traveling from Kathmandu to Delhi, was taken over by five heavily armed militants who demanded the release of key terrorists imprisoned in India. The week-long standoff at Kandahar, Afghanistan, and the subsequent trauma endured by the passengers and crew are etched in the collective memory of India. Recently, Anubhav Sinha, who directed a series on the incident, revealed shocking details about the pilot’s experience during the hijack. Captain Devi Sharan, who commanded the flight, endured relentless psychological and physical torment that left a permanent scar on his neck—an enduring reminder of the nightmare that unfolded 35,000 feet in the air. IC 814 departed from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport on December 24, 1999. Shortly after crossing into Indian airspace, the aircraft was hijacked by five armed men. The terrorists, part of the militant group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, commandeered the plane with knives, grenades, and pistols, overpowering the crew and announcing that the flight was now under their control. The hijackers initially directed the flight towards Lahore, but after being denied permission to land due to Pakistani airspace restrictions, they ordered the pilot to fly to Amritsar, India. The first moments of the hijacking were chaotic. The cockpit was immediately overrun, and Captain Sharan, along with his co-pilot and flight engineer, were threatened at gunpoint. The hijackers demanded complete compliance and were prepared to kill to get their way. Captain Sharan’s attempts to negotiate for a safe landing were met with physical aggression, as the hijackers placed the barrel of a gun firmly against his neck—a tactic they would repeat multiple times during the ordeal. The plane’s first landing was in Amritsar, India, where Captain Sharan hoped the authorities could intervene. However, the situation at Amritsar spiraled into confusion and indecision, with Indian officials hesitant to take immediate action due to the complex nature of the hijacking. After a tense standoff on the tarmac, the plane was forced to take off again, heading toward Lahore. By this point, the hijackers’ demands were escalating, and their tactics became increasingly violent. The pilot had to make several critical decisions, often under the threat of immediate execution if he failed to comply with their orders. In Lahore, the plane was briefly allowed to land due to fuel shortages, but Pakistani authorities refused to allow the aircraft to remain. The hijackers then diverted the plane to Dubai, where the hijackers released 27 passengers as a gesture of goodwill but maintained their hold on the remaining 155 hostages. At each stop, Captain Sharan was not only flying under duress but was also negotiating the lives of everyone on board, balancing the hijackers’ demands with the desperate need for fuel and safe landing conditions. The final destination was Kandahar, Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime controlled the territory. Once landed, the hijackers felt emboldened, believing they were on home ground with the Taliban offering a semblance of sanctuary. For Captain Sharan, this was perhaps the most psychologically draining phase of the ordeal. The Taliban, although appearing neutral, implicitly supported the hijackers by surrounding the aircraft with armed personnel and limiting Indian authorities’ access.
IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack: Anubhav Sinha reveals pilot was held at gunpoint for so long, it left a permanent mark on his neck
During this week-long standoff, the hijackers kept Captain Sharan and his crew under constant pressure. Sinha revealed that during one particularly terrifying moment, a hijacker kept his gun pressed against Sharan’s neck for such a prolonged period that it left a mark. This wasn’t just a fleeting moment of intimidation but a continuous psychological assault designed to break the resolve of the crew. For Captain Sharan, every command from the hijackers came with the immediate threat of death. The mental and physical impact on Captain Sharan was immense. In recounting his experience, Anubhav Sinha highlighted how the hijackers’ intimidation tactics left lasting effects. Sharan was not only navigating a plane under extreme duress but was also acting as the primary negotiator between the hijackers and authorities. His decisions during those critical moments saved lives but came at a personal cost. The hijackers’ aggression, especially their persistent use of a gun to enforce compliance, left a permanent physical mark on his neck—a visible reminder of the trauma. This scar symbolizes not just the physical abuse but also the mental scars that such experiences can leave behind. The mark on Sharan’s neck is a silent testament to the pilot’s resilience, his relentless commitment to protecting his passengers, and the unimaginable pressure he faced every minute of the hijacking. The ordeal concluded after a week of tense negotiations between the Indian government and the hijackers. The hijackers demanded the release of three terrorists: Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Zargar. Faced with no other viable options and mounting international pressure, the Indian government conceded to the hijackers’ demands, releasing the three prisoners in exchange for the safe return of the passengers. The decision was controversial and led to widespread criticism, as it highlighted the vulnerability of dealing with hostage situations. The exchange took place on the tarmac in Kandahar, with the hijackers finally allowing the hostages to leave the aircraft. The released terrorists were hailed as heroes by militant groups, and the entire episode served as a stark reminder of the lengths to which terrorists would go to achieve their objectives. For Captain Devi Sharan and his crew, the end of the hijacking was the beginning of a long road to recovery. The physical scars were visible, but the emotional scars were far deeper. Many crew members and passengers suffered from PTSD, struggling to reconcile their brush with death and the terror they endured. The pilot’s scar, prominently visible on his neck, became a symbol of survival—a mark of the courage displayed during one of India’s most notorious hijackings.