IC 814- The Kandahar Hijack: Real life survivor couple’s daughter gears up to be pilot; ‘I wanted to know how to handle…’

IC 814- The Kandahar Hijack: Real life survivor couple's daughter gears up to be pilot; 'I wanted to know how to handle...'

As a lifestyle expert with a keen interest in aviation and personal stories that intertwine with historical events, I must say I find Shivangi Menon’s journey incredibly inspiring. Her determination to learn from past experiences and her desire to be prepared for any situation is truly commendable.


As an ardent admirer of Anubhav Sinha’s work, I must express my disappointment at the criticism leveled against his masterpiece, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, for alleged inaccuracies in its portrayal. This gripping drama series, starring Vijay Varma, Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, Manoj Pahwa, and Patralekhaa, is a riveting retelling of the 1999 hijack of Air India flight Kathmandu-Delhi. A remarkable aspect of this story is that it revolves around a family whose members were onboard IC 814 during the hijack, and their daughter, Shivangi Menon, who aspires to become a pilot, has shared her determination to learn how to navigate such challenging situations in the future.

As per a report by News 18, Shivangi Menon – currently in training at Air India Express – holds the position of a junior first officer there. In an inspiring account, Shivangi revealed that the 1999 hijack incident served as her motivation to pursue a career in aviation. This disclosure coincides with the ongoing buzz surrounding the upcoming film, “Vijay Varma-starrer.

Speaking about the IC 814 hijack as a “pivotal event” in India’s aviation history, Shivangi remembered questioning her parents who had been on that flight during their honeymoon return trip. Later, as a trainee pilot, she delved into the incident online. Additionally, Shivangi reminisced about watching a documentary on National Geographic that included footage of her parents returning home.

In the interest of being prepared for unforeseen circumstances, I’ve acquired extensive training in anti-hijack procedures – a skillset I believe is crucial for my nation. Today, I shared this commitment with the portal.

Shivangi learned about the 1999 hijacking incident from a conversation between her parents at age five, as shared by her father, Bipin Menon. He went on to explain that this event had inspired Shivangi to pursue a career in aviation during her high school years when she was studying in the 11th standard.

Bipin shared his experience of observing the hijackers during a flight delay when the passengers were in the lounge area. The survivor of IC 814 hijack recounted that the hijackers seemed to be watching the passengers cautiously, which made them uneasy, but they didn’t give it much thought at the time.

In addition, Bipin shared his sentiment of being greatly admired by his daughter’s decision to pursue a profession with fewer female participants. Notably, it is reported that the aspiring pilot will take to the skies within a few days.

Previously, AS Dulat, a former head of R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing), has highlighted various discrepancies regarding the IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack incident, one being the assertion that Indian intelligence had knowledge about the hijacking. Contrary to this statement, Dulat clarified to The Print that no such warning was received by them at all.

Have you watched IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack yet?

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2024-09-10 01:37