Netflix series on 1999 Kandahar hijack back in focus after attack on Flydubai flight FZ1073
After the cockpit attack on Flydubai flight FZ1073, a Netflix miniseries on the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814 has returned to public attention.
Pilot Smit Machhar is being widely praised for his courage after the attack in the cockpit of Flydubai flight FZ1073. Without regard for his own life, he tried to protect the passengers. All 174 passengers on board survived the incident. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have called it a terrorist act, and an investigation is under way.
Meanwhile, a miniseries based on a real aircraft hijacking has come back into discussion. Titled "IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack", it can be watched on the OTT platform Netflix.
The miniseries is based on the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane. On December 24, 1999, five armed hijackers took over Indian Airlines flight IC 814, which was travelling from Kathmandu to Delhi. The incident created fear among the passengers and across the country.
The hijackers changed the aircraft's route several times and finally took it to Kandahar in Afghanistan. They demanded the release of terrorists held in Indian jails. The passengers and crew faced many hardships during this time. The hijacking lasted seven days.
The series has six episodes. It portrays the struggle of the passengers, the situation of the pilots and the diplomatic challenges before the Government of India. Events from the efforts to free the passengers after the hijacking to the negotiations in Kandahar are shown.
The series is based on the book "Flight into Fear: The Captain's Story", written by Captain Devi Sharan and journalist Srinjoy Chowdhury. In the series, the pilot's name is shown as "Sharan Dev".
The miniseries is directed by Anubhav Sinha. Its cast includes Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Dia Mirza and Arvind Swamy in key roles. Along with the performances, the tense moments of the hijacking and the efforts to free the hostages add to the thrill of the series.
"IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack" was released on Netflix in 2024. Viewers interested in aircraft hijackings, stories based on real events and diplomatic developments can watch it. Spread over six episodes, the story recalls one of the major hijacking crises of that era.
