India's aviation history between the 1970s and 1990s was marked by a series of hijackings that reflected a range of political, religious, and personal motives. While many of these incidents involved serious political agendas, some were driven by more unusual demands, such as the construction of a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya or even the postponement of college exams. During this period, Indian planes became frequent targets, with 16 hijacking incidents recorded from 1971 to 1999, a staggering statistic for the country's aviation sector.
The release of Anubhav Sinha’s Netflix series, *IC 814 - The Kandahar Hijack*, has reignited interest in these notorious episodes. For Gen Z viewers unfamiliar with the turbulent political climate of that era, the series offers a gripping portrayal of one of the most high-profile hijackings in Indian history. IC 814, hijacked by terrorists in 1999, was orchestrated to secure the release of Pakistani militants held in Indian prisons. However, this was far from the only hijacking that rocked Indian skies.
In 1978, an Indian Airlines flight was hijacked to demand the release of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who had been jailed following her election defeat. The hijackers, Bholanath Pandey and Devendra Pandey, used a toy gun to seize the plane, demanding not only Indira Gandhi’s release but also the resignation of then-Prime Minister Morarji Desai. Though the aircraft eventually landed in Varanasi, the hijackers surrendered without harm, highlighting the politically charged atmosphere of the time.
Another incident in 1993 saw Satish Chandra Pandey hijack a flight from Lucknow to Delhi to demand the construction of a Ram Temple at the site of the demolished Babri Masjid. This hijacking occurred in the wake of Hindu-Muslim riots that had erupted following the mosque’s demolition. Pandey, furious with the government's failure to fulfill promises to rebuild the temple, eventually surrendered after a conversation with Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
In the same year, Hari Singh, a truck driver from Haryana, hijacked a plane in an attempt to stop the Hindu-Muslim riots that had claimed over 1,000 lives. Armed with what turned out to be a hairdryer, Singh demanded asylum in Pakistan, but was eventually forced to surrender after being denied access to Pakistani airspace.
Even more bizarre was the hijacking in April 1993, when four college students commandeered a flight to demand changes in their course curriculum and the postponement of their exams. Passengers themselves subdued the hijackers, bringing an end to one of the strangest hijacking episodes in Indian aviation history.
The Khalistan movement also saw its share of hijackings. In 1982, Gurbaksh Singh, linked to the Khalistani cause, hijacked a flight to highlight the plight of Sikhs. This was followed by another hijacking just weeks later, by Manjit Singh, who demanded the release of Sikh granthis from jail and the transfer of power in Punjab to the Akali Dal. Both incidents ended without loss of life, but they underscored the political volatility of the time.
The final major hijacking, and perhaps the most infamous, was the IC 814 hijacking in December 1999. The plane, en route from Kathmandu to Delhi, was seized by terrorists demanding the release of militants held in India. After a tense standoff in Kandahar, Afghanistan, the Indian government ultimately agreed to release three militants in exchange for the safe return of the hostages. This incident, which ended with the militants walking free, left a lasting scar on India's national psyche and marked the end of an era in Indian aviation history.
Today, stringent security measures at airports are a standard reality, especially after the 9/11 attacks in the United States. However, during the 1970s to 1990s, hijackings became a frequent tool of protest and political blackmail, reflecting the turbulent socio-political landscape of the time. For many, watching *IC 814 - The Kandahar Hijack* serves as a reminder of how far Indian aviation has come since those days when hijacking incidents were a recurring nightmare for the nation.
From demands for political asylum to calls for communal harmony and religious construction, each hijacking carried with it a distinct motive and a different kind of chaos. While the political hijackings sought to make grand statements, others, like the hijack to delay college exams, exposed the sometimes whimsical nature of these airborne protests. What remains clear is that this chapter in Indian aviation history is filled with stories that not only shook the skies but also reflected the socio-political complexities on the ground.
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