The Netflix series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack,’ depicting the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 by the Pakistan-based terrorist group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, has ignited controversy. Anil Sharma, who was the chief steward on the hijacked Airbus, has criticized the series for portraying certain scenes inaccurately.
In a statement on Tuesday, Sharma, who witnessed the hijacking firsthand, described several scenes in the series as fictitious. His comments come amid backlash over the show’s depiction of the hijackers. Social media users have accused the creators, Anubhav Sinha and Trishant Srivastava, of offending Hindu sentiments by altering the names of two hijackers to ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar.’
Sharma explained that the names used in the series are not the real identities of the hijackers. “That (actual identities) should have been highlighted,” he said. He added that the series’ portrayal did not accurately reflect the events or the impact on the crew and passengers. Sharma noted that no crew members were harmed or slapped by the hijackers, contrary to some of the series’ dramatic scenes.
Sharma recounted the seriousness of the situation, particularly the grim task of handling a deceased passenger at Dubai airport, an incident stemming from the hijackers’ actions. Despite the criticism, Sharma acknowledged that his comments might not change the series’ reception but stressed the need for more accurate representation.
The controversy has prompted Netflix India to update the series’ opening disclaimer. Monika Shergill, Vice President (Content, India) at Netflix, stated that the disclaimer now includes both the real and code names of the hijackers. She clarified that the code names used in the series reflect those used during the actual event.
The hijacking took place on December 24, 1999, when five terrorists seized the Indian Airlines flight shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu, diverting it to Kandahar after stops in Amritsar, Lahore, and Dubai. To secure the release of 154 hostages, the Indian government released three terrorists: Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Zargar. The Union Home Ministry later revealed the real names of the hijackers and their code names used during the ordeal: ‘Bhola,’ ‘Shankar,’ ‘Chief,’ ‘Doctor,’ and ‘Burger.’
The series’ portrayal has stirred significant debate, highlighting the challenges of balancing dramatic storytelling with historical accuracy.
