 Taliban fighters in front of the hijacked plane |
|
| Hijacking summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | 24 December 1999 |
| Type | Hijacking |
| Site | Hijacked between Kathmandu and Delhi in Indian airspace, landed at Amritsar, Lahore, Dubai and Kandahar by 5 Pakistanis |
| Passengers | 178 |
| Crew | 15 |
| Injuries | 17 |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Survivors | 192 |
| Aircraft type | Airbus Airbus A300 |
| Operator | Indian Airlines |
| Tail number | VT-EDW |
| Flight origin | Tribhuvan International Airport |
| Destination | Indira Gandhi International Airport |
Indian Airlines Flight 814 (call sign IC-814) was an Indian Airlines Airbus A300 en route from Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu, Nepal) to Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi, India) when it was hijacked by five Pakistani nationals[1] on 24 December 1999. Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, a Pakistan-based militant group, was held responsible for the hijacking.
The aircraft was hijacked by armed gunmen shortly after it entered Indian airspace at about 17:30 hours IST. After touching down in Amritsar, Lahore and Dubai, the hijackers forced the aircraft to land in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The hijackers released 27 of 176 passengers in Dubai but fatally stabbed one and wounded several others.
India's lack of recognition of the Taliban-regime in Afghanistan complicated negotiations between Indian authorities and the hijackers. Taliban moved its well-armed fighters near the hijacked aircraft in an attempt to prevent Indian special forces from storming the aircraft. The hijacking lasted for seven days and ended after India released three Islamic militants — Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh (who was later arrested for the murder of Daniel Pearl) and Maulana Masood Azhar (who later founded Jaish-e-Mohammed).
Indian and U.S. intelligence agencies reported of credible links between the hijackers, the al-Qaida and the Taliban. The five hijackers and the three released militants were provided a safe passage by the Taliban. The dubious role played by the Taliban was widely condemned and led to further deterioration of relations between India and the Taliban.
Contents |
The flight had 178 passengers most of whom were Indian nationals who were coming back to India after vacationing in Nepal.[2]
The Indian Airlines flight 814 (VT-EDW) was hijacked on Friday, 24 December 1999, shortly after the aircraft entered Indian airspace at about 5:30 P.M. Indian Standard Time.[3] The identities of the hijackers according to the Indian Government were:[1]
Anil Sharma, the chief flight attendant on IC-814, later recalled that a masked, bespectacled man threatened to blow up the plane with a bomb and ordered Captain Devi Sharan to "fly West".[4] The hijackers wanted Captain Sharan to divert the aircraft over Lucknow and head towards Lahore, but Pakistani authorities quickly refused permission as they were wary of being linked with the terrorists. Also, the fuel was not sufficient. Captain Sharan told the hijackers that they have to land in Amritsar, India.[4]
At Amritsar, Captain Sharan requested refueling the aircraft. But the Crisis Management Group in Delhi directed Amritsar Airport authorities to ensure that the plane was immobilised. Even though the armed personnel of the Punjab Police were already in position to try and force the issue, New Delhi did not approve. Finally, a tanker was dispatched with the idea of blocking the approach of the aircraft. The driver, however, drove a trifle too fast and was told by ATC over the walkie-talkie to slow down. Rather than decelerate gradually, the driver screeched to a dead halt and this aroused the hijackers' suspicion. Without waiting for ATC clearance, the hijackers forced the pilot to take off, the aircraft narrowly missing the tanker by only a few feet[5].
Due to extremely low fuel level, the aircraft requested emergency landing in Lahore, Pakistan. Pakistan denied the request fearing that their country might be linked with the terrorists. Pakistan also shut down their Air traffic services, thus effectively blackening the whole of Pakistan airspace for the Indian Airlines flight, and switched off all lights at Lahore Airport[6]. With no help from ATC, Captain Sharan banked on his visual instincts and began descending on what he thought was a runway, only to find out that it was a well lit road, and ascended the aircraft in time[7]. On understanding that the only other option for the aircraft was to crash land, Lahore Airport switched on its lights and allowed the aircraft to land. Lahore airport officials refueled the aircraft and allowed it to leave Lahore at 22:32 hours IST. Moreover, Pakistani officials rejected IC-814 pilot's request to offload some women and children passengers.[8]
The aircraft took off for Dubai where 27 passengers aboard the ill-fated flight were released.[8] The hijackers also released critically injured 25 year old Indian male, Rupin Katyal, who was stabbed by the hijackers multiple times. Rupin later succumbed to his injuries, becoming the first and only casualty of the hijacking.[9]
Soon after the release of these passengers, the hijacked plane left for Kandahar International Airport.[3]
After the aircraft landed in Kandahar, Taliban authorities, in an attempt to gain international recognition, agreed to cooperate with Indian authorities and took the role of mediators between the hijackers and the Indian government.[10] Since India did not recognize the Taliban-regime, it dispatched an official from its High Commission in Islamabad to Kandahar.[8] India's lack of previous contact with the Taliban-regime complicated the negotiating process.[11]
However, the intention of Taliban came under doubt when its armed fighters surrounded the hijacked aircraft.[12] The Taliban maintained that the forces were deployed in an attempt to dissuade the hijackers from killing or injuring the hostages but analysts believe it was done to prevent Indian military operation against the hijackers.[13][14]
The hijackers initially demanded the release of 35 Islamic militants in Indian jails and US$200 million in cash[13] but Indian negotiators succeeded in persuading the hijackers in reducing their demand to the release of three prisoners. These were:[15]
Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who had been imprisoned in connection with 1994 Kidnappings of Western tourists in India, went on to murder Daniel Pearl and also allegedly played a significant role in planning the September 11 attacks in the United States.[21]
After the three militants landed in Kandahar, the hostages aboard the flight were freed. On 31 December 1999, the freed hostages of the Indian Airlines Flight 814 were flown back to India on a special plane.
Indian investigations established credible evidence that all five hijackers were Pakistani nationals and this information was shared with Pakistan, United States and Interpol.[1] The cooperation between the hijackers, the released militants and the Taliban was evident from the fact that the Taliban provided a safe passage to the hijackers and militants once the hostages were freed, contrary to Indian government expectations.[22][23] Later investigations revealed that one of the militants released as per the demand of the hijackers, Maulana Masood Azhar, had close links with the Taliban.[24] Maulana later founded Jaish-e-Muhammed, a terrorist organization which has received extensive aid from Taliban and pro-Taliban groups in Pakistan.[25]
Additionally, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, the primary suspect behind the hijacking,[26] has in the past recruited foreign fighters for the Taliban.[27] India also believes that Pakistan's intelligence agency (ISI) played a part in the hijacking.[28] U.S. intelligence agency (CIA) has also established credible links between Omar Sheikh, one of the released militants who went on to kidnap and murder Daniel Pearl, and the ISI.[29] During Operation Enduring Freedom, U.S. Special Forces recovered IC-814 boarding passes from abandoned Taliban camps near Kandahar indicating that the hijackers had collaborated with local Taliban militia.[13] Several other links between the hijackers, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Al-Qaida and the Taliban were also established.[13] Indian investigations also established credible links between Mullah Omar, Taliban leader, and the hijackers.[22]
The Hindi movie Zameen is a Bollywood adaptation of the Flight IC 814 hijacking. In the movie, a flight by Indian Airways is hijacked to Pakistan-administered Kashmir by terrorists.
Bollywood movie Hijack is also based on IC 814.
Miditech of Gurgaon, Haryana created Air Hijack, a documentary with re-enactments; the documentary appeared on National Geographic Channel.[30][31]
|
|||||
   | My experiences aboard IC-814 - [nukkad] My experiences aboard IC-814 |
| | Indian Airlines Capt. Devi Sharan was awarded the 1999 Safe Skies Award - World Development Federation - Conway Safe Skies Award |
| | Information on hijacked Indian Airlines Flight IC-814, Embassy of India - Information on hijacked Indian Airlines aircraft, IC-814 |
| | IC-814 Captain becomes a celebrity in India - IC-814 Captain becomes a celebrity in India, IC-814 Hijack, Indian Airforce |
| | IC-814 hijackers free birds in Pak - World Affairs Board |
| | How Govt lost the IC-814 hijack deal - How Govt lost the IC-814 hijack deal |
| | Aviation Safety.net entry on the hijacking - ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A.300B2-101 VT-EDW Amritsar, Lahore, Dubai, Kandahar |
| | Photographs of the Pakistani Hijackers - Rediff On The NeT: All five hijackers have been identified |
| | An eight-day ordeal - An eight-day ordeal |
|
|
Wikis
Quiz
Map
Search
Aviation accidents and incidents in 1999
