As a dedicated follower of true-life stories and their adaptations on screen, I must say that IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack has truly captured my attention. The series, based on the book Flight Into Fear by Captain Devi Sharan, is not just a thrilling watch, but also a tribute to the unsung heroes like Sharan who displayed unparalleled courage in the face of adversity.
Vijay Varma’s web series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, is generating significant online excitement. Although the show is drawing a large audience of film enthusiasts, it has also shed light on the real-life character Captain Devi Sharan, portrayed by Varma.
Drawing upon real-life occurrences, Anubhav Sinha’s film IC 814: The Kandahar Hijacking is adapted from the book, Flight Into Fear, written by Captain Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhary. This movie is renowned for being the longest hijack-related drama in aviation history. In the book, Sharan recounts his harrowing ordeal, his actions throughout, and how he managed to keep his composure during the hijacking incident.
In a situation filled with stress and turmoil on December 24, 1999, it was Devi Sharan’s calm demeanor and quick thinking that significantly contributed to ensuring the safety of the 188 passengers aboard IC 814. These passengers included newlyweds, vacationers, and businesspeople. Accompanying him were his first officer, Rajinder Kumar, and flight engineer, Anil Kumar Jaggia.
On the very last Christmas Eve of the millennium, Sharan was meant to embark on a family holiday. Yet, fate had other ideas. That tragic day, the plane was seized by 5 masked individuals, holding it captive for 8 long days.
The hijackers were associated with Al-Qaeda and their primary objective was to secure the release of three notorious terrorists: Maulana Masood Azhar (imprisoned in India for four years), Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar.
The hijacked aircraft was directed to various destinations such as Lahore and Amritsar, but ultimately landed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. In a conversation with CNN, the pilot shared his harrowing account of events. He disclosed that he was ordered to steer the plane towards Pakistan, but when this was refused, he rerouted it to Amritsar instead.
The predicament worsened significantly when the hijackers compelled him to depart from Amritsar with critically low fuel levels, seemingly unperturbed by the prospect of a catastrophic crash. They preferred not to perish in India instead. However, upon reaching Lahore, the airport’s runway lights were deactivated, and the runway was closed.
Given his imminent fuel exhaustion, Sharan had planned for an emergency landing. Yet, upon noticing that there were people below, he abandoned his plan to forcefully land the plane. Remarkably, the scenario took a sudden twist when Pakistani air traffic controllers sensed danger and granted permission for a last-minute landing.
Even though it seemed as if the harrowing event was coming to an end, it wasn’t quite over yet. Following their stop at Lahore Airport for refueling, the hijackers were told to direct the plane towards the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Once there, they freed 26 passengers and the deceased passenger who had been on board the flight.
For nearly a week, intense talks were held between the hijackers and the Indian authorities, as the hijacking situation unfolded. It wasn’t until the Indian government consented to free certain terrorist detainees in India that the crisis finally came to an end.
During a discussion with Netflix, director Anubhav Sinha disclosed that Pilot Captain Devi Sharan bears a lasting imprint on his neck from where hijackers held a gun to him. He explained that due to prolonged contact, it resulted in an enduring mark that remains visible.
In addition to Vijay Varma, the cast includes Patralekhaa, Dia Mirza, Kumud Mishra, and Naseeruddin Shah in significant parts. Right now, you can watch this series on Netflix.
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2024-09-02 13:38