Inspired by true events, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack tells the story of the longest hijacking in Indian aviation history. The series takes place in 1999, when a passenger plane is hijacked by five attackers and rerouted several times — eventually landing in Taliban-controlled territory. As the event unfolds, it sparks an international political crisis. From director Anubhav Sinha (Article 15) and adapted from the book Flight into Fear: A Captain’s Story, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack stars Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, and Pankaj Kapur.

When will IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack be released?

Stream it now.

Where can I find the trailer for IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack?

Check it out at the top of this page. 

Who’s in the cast of IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack?

• Vijay Varma (Gully Boy) as Captain Sharan Dev
• Pankaj Kapur (Mausam) as Vijaybhan Singh, the minister of external affairs 
• Naseeruddin Shah (Ishqiya) as Vinay Kaul, the cabinet secretary of India and the head of India’s Crisis Management Group
• Arvind Swamy (Thani Oruvan) as DRS, the joint secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs
• Kumud Mishra (Thappad) as Ranjan Mishra, the joint secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing
• Manoj Pahwa (Article 15) as Mukul Mohan, a director at the Intelligence Bureau 

What happens in IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack?

As the passengers of Indian Airlines flight 814 board the plane at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, they anticipate an hour-long flight to Delhi, India. But well after the plane hits cruising altitude, five armed men take everyone hostage. The six-episode limited series follows the events that transpire, from the chaos up in the air to the government officials who scramble to control the ordeal. In all, the hijacking lasted seven days. But why? And what really happened on the plane that week? 

“We met officials engaged in running the rescue mission from Delhi, and passengers and the crew told us the story inside the aircraft,” director Sinha told Netflix about the series’ creation and its real-life inspiration. “[Journalist] Adrian Levy … came on board, and an all-new international canvas unfolded before us. What went on across those seven days turned out to be a compelling story that cuts through chilling and thrilling tactical and diplomatic maneuvers that had to be told. The viewers must know this story that has never been told inside out before.”

Is IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack based on a book?

Yes. The series was adapted from the book Flight into Fear: A Captain’s Story by Captain Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury.

Is IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack based on a true story?

Yes. The fictionalized series is inspired by a real-life hijacking. On Dec. 24, 1999, Indian Airlines flight IC 814 left Kathmandu with more than 175 passengers on board. The aircraft was headed toward Delhi. As it flew into Indian territory, IC 814 was taken over by five masked hijackers. Before eventually ending up in Taliban-governed Kandahar, Afghanistan, the plane made unplanned stops in Amritsar, India; Lahore, Pakistan; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The hijack lasted seven days. 

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