Ic 814 Captain Devi Sharan Hoped Amritsar Authorities Would Block Him From Taking Off By Parking Tanker In Front Of Aircraft

IC 814 Hijack: Captain Devi Sharan's Harrowing Ordeal

Introduction

On December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines flight IC 814 was hijacked by five armed terrorists shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu, Nepal. The aircraft, an Airbus A300, was carrying 176 passengers and 11 crew members. The hijackers demanded the release of Masood Azhar, a terrorist leader who was being held in an Indian prison.

Captain Devi Sharan's Role

Captain Devi Sharan was the pilot-in-command of IC 814. He was a highly experienced pilot with over 20 years of experience. During the hijacking, Captain Sharan remained calm and collected, and he did everything he could to protect his passengers and crew. When the hijackers demanded that he fly the plane to Kandahar, Afghanistan, Captain Sharan refused. He knew that Kandahar was a Taliban stronghold, and he feared that the passengers and crew would be harmed if they landed there. Instead, Captain Sharan flew the plane to Amritsar, India. He hoped that the Indian authorities would be able to block the hijackers from taking off again. However, the Indian authorities were unable to do so, and the hijackers forced Captain Sharan to fly the plane to Kandahar.

The Hostage Crisis

The hijackers held the passengers and crew hostage for eight days. During this time, they tortured and killed several of the hostages. The Indian government eventually agreed to release Masood Azhar in exchange for the release of the hostages.

Captain Sharan's Legacy

Captain Devi Sharan was hailed as a hero for his actions during the hijacking. He was awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award. He retired from Indian Airlines in 2004, and he passed away in 2015. Captain Sharan's story is a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of those who serve in the armed forces. He will always be remembered as a hero who saved the lives of many innocent people.

Additional Information

* For more information on the IC 814 hijacking, please visit the following websites: * [Wikipedia article on the IC 814 hijacking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Airlines_Flight_814_hijacking) * [BBC article on the IC 814 hijacking](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-11811617) * [Indian Express article on the IC 814 hijacking](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/ic-814-hijack-recalls-eight-days-of-terror-and-diplomacy-5601112/)