Archive · 3 Dec 2025
IC-814 Kandahar Hijack: A 1999 Terror Event
On December 24, 1999, five terrorists from a group called Harkat-ul-Mujahideen took control of an Indian Airlines plane, IC-814, with 154 people on board.
The plane was supposed to go from Kathmandu, Nepal, to Delhi, India, but the terrorists made it go to different places, including Afghanistan.
They wanted India to free some terrorists who were in jail.
The whole situation lasted for eight days.
During this time, the people on the plane were treated very badly.
In the end, India agreed to free the terrorists the hijackers wanted, and the people on the plane were let go.
However, the freed terrorists were later involved in other terrorist attacks.
This event is now being made into a movie called Dhurandhar, which will be released soon.
On December 24, 1999, five terrorists hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814 carrying 154 passengers and crew.
The hijackers demanded the release of jailed terrorists, money, and the body of a fellow terrorist.
The plane was diverted to Amritsar, Lahore, Dubai, and finally Kandahar, where the hostages were held for eight days.
India agreed to free the demanded terrorists, who were later involved in other terrorist attacks.
The hostages were released, but the hijackers and freed terrorists were allowed to leave Afghanistan, raising suspicions of Taliban and Pakistani involvement.
- Who
- Five terrorists from Harkat-ul-Mujahideen hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814
- What
- The hijacking of IC-814 and the subsequent hostage crisis in Kandahar
- When
- December 24, 1999, lasting eight days
- Where
- The hijacking began in Kathmandu, Nepal, and ended in Kandahar, Afghanistan
- Why
- The terrorists demanded the release of jailed terrorists, money, and the body of a fellow terrorist
- Date of Hijacking
- December 24, 1999
- Number of Hostages
- 154 passengers and crew
- Hijackers' Demands
- Release of jailed terrorists, money, and body of Sajjad Afghani
- Duration of Hijacking
- Eight days
- Location of Final Landing
- Kandahar, Afghanistan
- Terrorist Group Involved
- Harkat-ul-Mujahideen
- Released Terrorists
- Maulana Masood Azhar, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh
- Casualties
- Satnam Singh and Rupin Katyal