IC 814 Kandahar Hijack: All You Need To Know About The Controversy Over This Netflix Series

Netflix’s new series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has stirred up major controversy, with claims of fact distortion surrounding the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 from Kathmandu to Delhi. Directed by Anubhav Sinha and based on Captain Devi Sharan’s memoir Flight Into Fear, the show quickly caught the government’s eye. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting even summoned Netflix’s India content head. But what’s fueling the outrage? And what do the survivors of that terrifying hijack have to say about it all?

(Picture credit: Still from IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack/netflix.com/tudum)

The backlash centers around the series' portrayal of the five hijackers, where Pakistani terrorists are depicted using "Hindu names" as aliases, such as Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola, and Shankar. BJP leader Amit Malviya took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticise this portrayal, arguing that by giving the hijackers “non-Muslim” aliases, the filmmakers deliberately made it appear as though “Hindus hijacked IC-814.”

(Picture credit: Still from IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack/netflix.com)

Veteran director Sudhir Mishra defended Anubhav Sinha, praising his patriotic credentials and upbringing in Benaras and Aligarh.

Survivors of the incident have also shared their personal stories, which the series attempts to encapsulate, depicting the terror and trauma they endured during the 1999 crisis. 

A traveller, Rachna Katiyal was left unaware of her husband Rupan Katiyal's death after he was killed by terrorists. Rupan was moved from economy to business class and then thrown out at Dubai airport.

Following the uproar, the show included a disclaimer clarifying the real names and aliases of the hijackers. However, a Home Ministry statement from January 2000, cited by The Indian Express, confirms these code names were indeed used by the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen group.

(Picture credit: Still from IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack/netflix.com/tudum)

In an interview with the NY Times, fellow traveler Menon recounted that a terrorist named Burger told her, "consider him as your elder brother and asked her to live happily." Menon described how Rachna cried for two days and was ignored, but on the third day, Burger told her, "I am like your elder brother. Your husband has been released in Dubai. You should be happy he is safe and sound." Rachna never knew her husband had been killed.

(Picture credit: Still from IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack/netflix.com/tudum)

This controversy underscores ongoing debates about creative freedom, historical accuracy, and the portrayal of sensitive issues in popular media.

(Picture credit: @netflix_in/Instagram)