Netflix viewers ‘chilled down to spine’ by real-life story of shocking plane hijack

Netflix viewers have been left unsettled watching a series about a real-life plane hijacking that unfolded in the 1990s.

Based on true events, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack tells the story of the longest hijacking in Indian aviation history.

The series takes place in December 1999, when a passenger plane travelling from Kathmandu to Delhi with more than 175 passengers on board is taken over by five masked hijackers.

The planned one-hour flight is rerouted several times — eventually landing in Taliban-controlled territory in Afghanistan.

The six-part series, which stars actors including Vijay Varma, Pankaj Kapur and Naseeruddin Shah, follows the events that transpire, ‘from the chaos up in the air to the government officials who scramble to control the ordeal’, which unfolds over seven days.

Since being released on Netflix in recent days, viewers have rushed to share their thoughts on the series.

‘I was chilled down to spine. Cannot imagine how traumatic for the passengers in that plane,’ user kavitha90031 posted on X.

‘Watching and reliving the #IC814 saga on Netflix. Superb storytelling which takes me back to days of being glued to the TV,’ rekhabaala posted.

‘I watched all of #IC814 today. It was a remarkably well written, acted, edited & directed piece. Vijay Verma was outstanding, but the truth is that everyone was equally as great. 5/5 – A tour de force of tension. Don’t miss it,’ SRDHAIN added.

Others called it a ‘must watch’ but also added others could expect a ‘nail biting’ viewing experience.

The series is based on the book Flight into Fear: A Captain’s Story by Captain Devi Sharan’s 2000 recounting of the event.

During the week-long hijack, the plan made unplanned stops in Amritsar, India; Lahore, Pakistan; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The hijackers released 27 of 176 passengers in Dubai but fatally stabbed one and wounded several others.

The motive for the hijacking was to secure the release of Pakistani terrorists held in prison in India – Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar.

After seven days India agreed to release the three terrorists, all of whom then went on to be implicated in other terrorist actions, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, 2002 kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, 2016 Pathankot attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack.

Director and co-creator of the series Anubhav Sinha said he co-writer Trishant Srivastava wanted to ‘sink our teeth deeper’ into the story.

‘We met officials engaged in running the rescue mission from Delhi, and passengers and the crew told us the story inside the aircraft,’ he recently told Variety.

‘What went on across those seven days turned out to be a compelling story that cuts through chilling and thrilling tactical and diplomatic manoeuvres that had to be told.

‘The viewers must know this story that has never been told inside out before with a cast I don’t know if I can put together again.’