Mystery of Flight IC-814

On December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 was hijacked while on its way from Kathmandu to Delhi. The hijacking lasted for almost a week and ended with the release of three terrorists in exchange for the safe return of the hostages. The hijacking of Flight IC-814 is one of the most infamous incidents in aviation history and is considered a turning point in India's counter-terrorism policy. This article will explore the events leading up to the hijacking, the hijacking itself, and its aftermath.

Events Leading up to the Hijacking

On December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 was scheduled to fly from Kathmandu to Delhi. The flight was a routine one and was carrying 176 passengers and crew members. However, this routine flight was about to turn into a nightmare for everyone on board.

The hijacking of Flight IC-814 was planned and executed by a terrorist group called Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM). HuM was a Pakistan-based militant group that was fighting for the independence of Kashmir from India. The group had already carried out several attacks in Kashmir and other parts of India, and the hijacking of Flight IC-814 was to be their most audacious operation.

The hijackers of Flight IC-814 were five men who had boarded the flight in Kathmandu. They were carrying guns, knives, and explosives. Once the flight was airborne, the hijackers revealed their weapons and took control of the aircraft.

The Hijacking

Once the hijackers had taken control of the aircraft, they demanded the release of several of their colleagues who were imprisoned in India. The Indian government refused to negotiate with the hijackers, and the standoff between the hijackers and the authorities continued for several days.

During the hijacking, the hijackers made several demands. They demanded the release of several of their colleagues who were imprisoned in India, the release of a Pakistani cleric who was being held in India, and the withdrawal of Indian troops from Kashmir.

The hijackers also threatened to blow up the aircraft and kill all the passengers and crew members if their demands were not met. The Indian government tried to negotiate with the hijackers but was unable to come to an agreement.

The hijackers allowed the aircraft to land in several different locations during the standoff. The aircraft landed in Amritsar, Lahore, and Dubai. The hijackers released several passengers during these stops, but they also killed one passenger, Rupin Katyal, during a stop in Dubai.

Finally, after almost a week of negotiations, the Indian government agreed to release three of the hijackers' colleagues in exchange for the safe return of the hostages. The three terrorists who were released were Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar. Masood Azhar went on to form Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), another Pakistan-based militant group that has carried out several attacks in India.

Aftermath

The hijacking of Flight IC-814 was a turning point in India's counter-terrorism policy. The hijacking exposed the weaknesses in India's security apparatus and highlighted the need for better coordination between various intelligence agencies. The Indian government also came under criticism for its handling of the hijacking, with many people questioning the decision to release the terrorists in exchange for the hostages.

The hijacking also had a profound impact on the families of the passengers and crew members who were on board Flight IC-814. The families of the victims criticized the Indian government for failing to prevent the hijacking and for the decision to release the terrorists.

The hijacking of Flight IC-814 also had an impact on aviation security worldwide. The hijacking led to increased security measures at airports around the world, particularly in South Asia. The hijacking was a wake-up call for authorities to take the threat of terrorism seriously and to implement stricter security measures to prevent future incidents.

The hijacking of Flight IC-814 also had an impact on India's relationship with Pakistan. The fact that the hijackers were Pakistani nationals and that the demands of the hijackers were related to the Kashmir conflict added to the tension between the two countries. India accused Pakistan of supporting the hijackers and of providing them with training and equipment. The Indian government also accused Pakistan of providing a safe haven for terrorist groups like HuM and JeM.

The hijacking of Flight IC-814 led to a series of diplomatic and military measures between India and Pakistan. India imposed economic sanctions on Pakistan and increased its military presence in Kashmir. Pakistan denied any involvement in the hijacking and accused India of trying to destabilize Pakistan. The tension between the two countries continued for several years after the hijacking and led to several military standoffs, including the Kargil War in 1999.

The hijacking of Flight IC-814 also had a lasting impact on the families of the victims. Many of the families of the passengers and crew members have been advocating for justice for their loved ones for over two decades. They have been demanding a thorough investigation into the hijacking and the release of classified documents related to the incident.

The families of the victims have also been demanding compensation from the Indian government for their losses. In 2001, the Indian government announced a compensation package for the families of the victims. However, many of the families have criticized the compensation package as inadequate and have been demanding a higher amount.

Conclusion

The hijacking of Flight IC-814 was a significant event in Indian and aviation history. The hijacking exposed the weaknesses in India's security apparatus and highlighted the need for better coordination between various intelligence agencies. The hijacking also had an impact on India's relationship with Pakistan and led to increased tension between the two countries.

The hijacking of Flight IC-814 was a tragic event that had a profound impact on the families of the victims. The families of the passengers and crew members have been demanding justice and compensation for their losses for over two decades. The hijacking also had a lasting impact on aviation security worldwide and led to increased security measures at airports around the world.

The hijacking of Flight IC-814 serves as a reminder of the threat of terrorism and the need for countries to work together to prevent future incidents. It is important for governments to take the threat of terrorism seriously and to implement measures to prevent incidents like the hijacking of Flight IC-814 from happening again.