Netflix has agreed to update the disclaimer of its latest series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, following a backlash over the depiction of the hijackers involved in the 1999 Indian Airlines hijacking incident. The streaming giant’s decision comes after officials from India’s Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry met with Netflix representatives to address concerns regarding the alleged misrepresentation of facts in the show.
#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra | Netflix India issues an official statement addressing the controversy around its original, IC814- The Kandahar Attack- “… For the benefit of audiences unfamiliar with the 1999 hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight 814, the opening disclaimer has… pic.twitter.com/URjdLeMdVc
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The controversy erupted on social media over the weekend, with many users criticizing the series for using fictional names for the hijackers and calling for a boycott. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had previously confirmed in a document that the hijackers had codenamed themselves as “Chief,” “Burger,” “Shankar,” “Bhola,” and “Doctor” during the ordeal.
The web series, directed by Anubhav Sinha and Trishant Srivastava, is inspired by the book ‘Flight Into Fear: The Captain’s Story’ by Devi Sharan, the captain of the ill-fated flight, and journalist Srinjoy Chowdhury. It features an ensemble cast including Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Varma, and Pankaj Kapur.
Hijacking of IC 814
On December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines Flight IC 814, carrying 154 passengers and crew, was hijacked shortly after departing from Kathmandu, Nepal, en route to Delhi. The five hijackers, later identified as members of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, diverted the plane to Kandahar, Afghanistan, which was then under Taliban control. The hijackers demanded the release of three high-profile militants—Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar—who were imprisoned in India.
Under mounting pressure to save the hostages, the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, agreed to the demands. The terrorists were escorted to Kandahar by then-External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.
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