Indian Airlines Flight 421

Last updated

Indian Airlines Flight 421
Indian Airlines Boeing 737-2A8; VT-EGE, December 1998 BUI (5404996252).jpg
An Indian Airlines Boeing 737-200, similar to the aircraft involved in the hijack
Hijacking
Date24 August 1984 (1984-08-24)
Summary Terrorist hijacking
Site Dubai Airport, UAE
25°15′10″N055°21′52″E / 25.25278°N 55.36444°E / 25.25278; 55.36444
Aircraft
Aircraft type Boeing 737-2A8
Operator Indian Airlines
IATA flight No.IC421
Registration VT-EFK
Flight origin Palam Airport
1st stopover Lahore Airport
2nd stopover Karachi Airport
Last stopover Dubai Airport
Destination Srinagar Airport
Occupants74 (including the hijackers)
Fatalities0
Survivors74

On 24 August 1984, seven members of the banned All India Sikh Students Federation hijacked an Indian Airlines jetliner Indian Airlines Flight 421 (IATA No.: IC421), [1] [2] a Boeing 737-2A8, on a domestic flight from the Delhi-Palam Airport to Srinagar Airport with 74 people on board and demanded to be flown to the United States. [3] The plane travelled to Lahore, then to Karachi and finally to Dubai, where the defence minister of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum negotiated the release of the passengers and the surrender of all hijackers to UAE authorities.

Contents

It was related to the secessionist insurgency in the Indian state of Punjab. The Khalistan movement was a separatist movement in Indian Punjab and UK where a small portion of the Sikh community openly asked for a separate country for Sikhs (Khalistan). [4] The hijackers were subsequently extradited by UAE to India. UAE authorities also handed over the pistol recovered from the hijackers.

Indian civil servant K. Subrahmanyam was on board the hijacked flight. [5] The arrested hijackers later claimed in court that it was Subrahmanyam who "planned the entire hijacking to examine nuclear installations in Pakistan." [6]

IC 421 hijacking was mentioned in the book IA's Terror Trail, written by Anil Sharma. [2] [7] Indian Airlines, India's sole domestic airline up to 1993, was hijacked 16 times, from 1971 to 1999.

This hijacking was an important part of the 2021 Indian film Bell Bottom .

Timeline

Indian Airlines Flight 421 took off from Palam Airport at New Delhi with 122 passengers, bound for Srinagar via Chandigarh and Jammu in the early hours of 24 August 1984. At Chandigarh 67 passengers disembarked and 31 joined the flight for Jammu and Srinagar. At 7:30AM, seven Sikh passengers - described as being in their twenties and wielding kirpans - stormed into the cockpit and took control of the flight from Captain V.K. Mehta. On taking the cockpit, the hijackers forced the pilot to fly the aircraft to Amritsar and circle above the Golden Temple - the central shrine of the Sikh faith which had been raided in June that year by the Indian Army in an anti-terrorist operation. After two circles above the Golden Temple, the hijackers ordered the aircraft's pilot to fly to Lahore, Pakistan. At Lahore the aircraft had to circle the city for nearly 80 minutes before it was finally allowed to land by the Pakistani authorities at 9:50 AM due to dangerously low fuel levels. [8]

Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi spoke with Pakistani President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and requested him not to allow the aircraft to leave Lahore airport. The Indian government believed that since the hijackers were lightly armed, they could have very easily been neutralized by having special forces storm the aircraft. [8] [9]

On meeting with Pakistani officials on the tarmac at Lahore, the hijackers demanded that the aircraft be re-fueled and flown to the United States. The Pakistanis agreed to refuel the aircraft, but advised that the aircraft lacked the range to fly to the Western Hemisphere. The hijackers allowed five passengers, including a three-member family, to leave the aircraft at Lahore. At 7 PM, one of the hijackers produced a revolver and used it to force Captain Mehta to take off from Lahore. Two British nationals on board the flight later recounted that Pakistani officials had handed a paper wrapped packet to the hijackers, and claimed that the revolver had been produced from this packet. [8]

On departing from Lahore, the hijackers demanded that Captain Mehta fly them to Bahrain. When Mehta refused - citing unfavorable flying conditions - the aircraft was diverted to Karachi where it landed. At Karachi, the hijackers allowed two women holding British passports to leave the aircraft. After sitting on the tarmac for an hour where it was further re-fueled, the aircraft took off and headed for Dubai. On approaching Dubai airport, the UAE authorities refused permission to land, switching off the runway lights as well as the radio beacon, in spite of Mehta's repeated pleas. By 5 AM the next morning, the aircraft was again facing dangerously low fuel levels and the flight crew made announcements asking all passengers to prepare for a water landing. When Mehta informed the UAE authorities of his plans to ditch the aircraft in the waters off Dubai, permission was finally given to land. The aircraft landed at 4:55 AM local time with just five minutes of fuel left. [8] [9]

At 8 AM, UAE Defence Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, reached the airport's control tower and began negotiations with the hijackers. At 10:05 AM, a white Mercedes car was sent to the aircraft and returned with one of the hijackers for face-to-face negotiations with Sheikh Rashid inside the airport terminal building. At 11:40 AM, a van filled with food and water for the hostages was dispatched, but this was turned back by the hijackers. At 12:35 PM, two ambulances were summoned to the aircraft when one of its passengers - K. Subrahmanyam, director of the Delhi-based Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis - complained that he required insulin injections for his diabetes. Subrahmanyam and an accompanying hijacker returned to the aircraft after the insulin dose was administered inside one of the ambulances. [8] [9]

At 1:45 PM, after repeated requests from Sheikh Rashid, the hijackers finally allowed food and water to be brought on board for the hostages. [8]

During negotiations with the UAE authorities, the hijackers demanded safe passage to the United States as well as political asylum there. The US Consul General in Dubai, David Stockwell, reached the airport during the negotiations but later announced that "Our position is very clear. If they go to the US, they will be arrested." At one point in the negotiations, the hijackers wanted to be flown to London and the authorities began to make plans for a refueling stop in Istanbul. [8] [9]

At 2:30 PM, the hijackers forced Subrahmanyam to convey to the negotiators over radio their intention to commence execution of one hostage every half hour - starting with Subrahmanyam - if their demands were not met. However, no executions were carried out. At 4 PM, two of the hijackers were taken to the terminal building for further negotiations, and at 5:30 PM when they had not yet returned, the remaining hijackers threatened to detonate an explosive device on board the aircraft. At 5:55 PM both the hijackers returned to the aircraft, leaving again at 6:20 PM only to return after 10 minutes. [8] [9]

At 6:50 PM, Dubai Chief of Police Colonel Dahi Khalfan Tamim announced to the press that the hijackers had been put under protective custody and that they had surrendered unconditionally. At 7 PM, two Dubai National Airlines Transport Authority passenger coaches arrived and all passengers and crew members were taken to the terminal building. The hijackers were then detained by the UAE authorities. The UAE authorities initially promised a seven-day asylum to the hijackers before their departure to the United States. In subsequent discussions with UAE and Indian officials, the hijackers were given two options: extradition back to India, or prosecution for air piracy under UAE law. [8] [10] All hijackers were later extradited to India. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dubai International Airport</span> Major international airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai International Airport is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic. It is also the busiest airport in the Middle East, the second-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, the busiest airport for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements, and the airport with the highest average number of passengers per flight. In 2023, the airport handled 87 million passengers and 1.81 million tonnes of cargo and registered 416,405 aircraft movements.

Pakistan International Airlines is an international airline which is the government-owned flag carrier of Pakistan. Its primary hub is Karachi's Jinnah International Airport, while Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore and Islamabad International Airport serve as secondary hubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Airlines</span> Defunct airline of India (1953–2011)

Indian Airlines was a state-owned airline in India that later became a division of Air India Limited before ultimately ceasing operations. It was based in Delhi and focused primarily on domestic routes, along with several international services to neighbouring countries in Asia and limited flights to the Middle East and Southeast Asia. It was a division of Air India Limited after the merger of eight pre-Independence domestic airlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allama Iqbal International Airport</span> Airport serving Lahore, Pakistan

Allama Iqbal International Airport is the third largest civilian airport by traffic in Pakistan, after Jinnah International Airport, Karachi and Islamabad International Airport. It serves Lahore, capital of Punjab and second-largest city of Pakistan. It also serves a large portion of the travellers from the other regions of Punjab province. Originally known as Lahore International Airport, it was renamed after the visionary poet and philosopher Dr. Allama Iqbal, one of the pioneers that led to the creation of Pakistan. The airport has three terminals: the Allama Iqbal terminal, the Hajj terminal and a cargo terminal. The airport is about 15 km from the centre of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Airlines Flight 814</span> 1999 Indian aircraft hijacking

Indian Airlines Flight 814, commonly known as IC 814, was an Indian Airlines Airbus A300 that was hijacked on 24 December 1999 by five members of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. The passenger flight, en route from Kathmandu to Delhi, was taken over shortly after it entered the Indian airspace at about 16:53 IST. The aircraft carried 190 occupants which included 179 passengers and 11 crew members including Captain Devi Sharan, First Officer Rajinder Kumar, and Flight Engineer Anil Kumar Jaggia.

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dal Khalsa (organization)</span> Radical Sikh outfit

Dal Khalsa is a radical Sikh organisation, based in the city of Amritsar. The outfit was formed in 1978 by Gajinder Singh, the hijacker of Indian Airlines Flight 423. It came to prominence during Insurgency in Punjab along with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in 1981. Members of the Dal Khalsa have also been accused of the assassination of Lala Jagat Narain. The primary aim of Dal Khalsa is to form a Punjabi Sikh nation state called Khalistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faisalabad International Airport</span> International airport in Faisalabad, Punjab

Faisalabad International Airport is an international airport and standby Pakistan Air Force military base situated on Jhang Road, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southwest of the city centre of Faisalabad, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The airport is home to two flying schools who use the airfield for regular training for new cadets and aviation enthusiasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Airlines Flight 427</span> 1993 aircraft hijacking

Indian Airlines Flight 427, a domestic passenger flight of the Indian Airlines between Srinagar Airport and the Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport, was involved in an aircraft hijacking that took place in India between 24 and 25 April 1993. Commandos from the National Security Guard (NSG) rescued all 141 hostages of the Indian Airlines Boeing 737, on the ground at Amritsar airport. The lone hijacker, Mohammad Yousuf, was killed within 5 minutes of commandos entering the plane, before he could react and harm any of the hostages. The rescue was code-named Operation Ashwamedh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Airlines Flight 410</span> 1978 politically-motivated plane hijacking in India

Indian Airlines Flight 410 was a domestic passenger flight from Calcutta to Palam Airport, Delhi, India. On 20 December 1978 the flight was hijacked by Bholanath Pandey and Devendra Pandey shortly before landing at Palam Airport. The hijackers claimed to be members of the Indian Youth Congress, and demanded the release of Indira Gandhi, withdrawal of the charges against her son Sanjay Gandhi, and the resignation of the Janata Party government. The hijackers surrendered shortly after 60 passengers managed to escape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistan International Airlines Flight 544</span> Aircraft hijacking

Pakistan International Airlines Flight 544, a Pakistan International Airlines Fokker F27, was hijacked on 25 May 1998, shortly after it took off from Gwadar International Airport, by three armed men belonging to Baloch Students Organization. The aircraft, with 33 passengers and 5 crew members aboard, had just arrived from Gwadar International Airport, Balochistan, and was set to land in Hyderabad Airport, Sindh. The hijackers demanded that the aircraft be flown to New Delhi, India. The Army's Special Service Group's Haideri Company, 7th Commando Zarrar Battalion, SSG Division, accompanied by members of the Pakistan Rangers, stormed the aircraft, while the Pakistan Police surrounded the plane. The operation concluded with all three hijackers arrested and sentenced to death by Pakistan, with no casualties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Srinagar Airport</span> International Airport in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Sheikh Ul Alam International Airport or Srinagar Airport, also known as Budgam Airbase is an international airport serving Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is owned by the Indian Air Force with the Airports Authority of India operating a civil enclave at the airport and was designated as an international airport in 2005. The airport is located in Budgam, about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Srinagar. It has an integrated domestic and international terminal with one asphalt runway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of aviation in Bangladesh</span>

The history of aviation in Bangladesh began with kites, the traditional heavier-than-air man-made object, that is flown by one or more people while staying on the ground. The first recorded manned flight was arranged by the Dhaka Nawab Family in 1882, which resulted in the death of the flyer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamabad International Airport</span> Airport serving the Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area of Pakistan

Islamabad International Airport is an international airport serving Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan and Rawalpindi. It is located 25 km (16 mi) south-west of the city, and is directly connected to the Lahore and Peshawar motorways as well to the capital city Islamabad via Srinagar Highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 Indian Airlines hijacking</span> Aviation incident

On 30 January 1971, an Indian Airlines domestic Fokker F27, also named "Ganga", flying from Srinagar Airport to the Jammu-Satwari Airport, was hijacked by two Kashmiri separatists belonging to the National Liberation Front. The hijackers were Hashim Qureshi and his cousin Ashraf Qureshi. The aircraft was flown to Lahore Airport in Pakistan where the passengers and the crew were released and the aircraft was burnt down.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Airlines Flight 423</span> 1981 aircraft hijacking

Indian Airlines Flight 423 was an Indian Airlines Boeing 737 domestic passenger flight from the Delhi-Palam Airport to the Amritsar-Raja Sansi Airport on 29 September 1981. It was hijacked by five Sikh of the Dal Khalsa and taken to Lahore Airport in Pakistan. The plane had 111 passengers and 6 crew members on board. The Dal Khalsa had been demanding a separate Sikh homeland of Khalistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Airlines Flight 405</span> 1984 aircraft hijacking

On 5 July 1984, nine hijackers forced Indian Airlines Flight 405, an Airbus A300 on a domestic flight from Srinagar Airport to the Delhi-Palam Airport with 254 passengers and 10 crew on board, to be flown to Lahore Airport in Pakistan.

<i>Bell Bottom</i> (2021 film) 2021 Indian film by Ranjith M. Tewari

Bell Bottom is a 2021 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Ranjit M. Tewari. The film is written by Aseem Arrora and Parveez Sheikh, with production by Vashu Bhagnani, Jackky Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh and Nikkhil Advani under their respective banners Pooja Entertainment and Emmay Entertainment. It stars Akshay Kumar as the lead character, with Vaani Kapoor, Lara Dutta and Huma Qureshi in an extended cameo appearance. Bell Bottom is inspired from real life hijacking events in India by Khalistani terrorists during the 1980s, such as the Indian Airlines Flight 423, 405 and 421 hijackings.

References

  1. ↑ "Longest hijack in Indian aviation history by Khalistan activists meets anti-climactic end".
  2. 1 2 "Two Years Before 'Neerja' Hijacking: The Curious Case of IC 421". 17 March 2016.
  3. ↑ Kishin R. Wadhwaney (2004). Indian Airports (Shocking Ground Realities). Diamond Pocket Books. ISBN   978-81-288-0872-2 . Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  4. ↑ Kiessling, Hein (2016). Faith, Unity, Discipline: The Inter-Service-Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan. Oxford University Press. ISBN   9781849048637 . Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Longest hijack in Indian aviation history by Khalistan activists meets anti-climactic end". India Today. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  6. ↑ "K. Subrahmanyam (1929-2011)- the dean of Indian strategy". Hindustan Times. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  7. ↑ Sharma, Anil; Doval, Ajit K. (1 January 2014). IA's Terror Trail. ASIN   935156181X.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Santhanam, Raju. "Longest hijack in Indian aviation history by Khalistan activists meets anti-climactic end". India Today. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "August 26, 1984 — All passengers, crew of jet freed". 25 August 2021.
  10. ↑ "August 26, 1984 — All passengers, crew of jet freed". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  11. ↑ Magan, Shristi (18 September 2021). "Everything To Know About The Real-Life Hijacking That Inspired Akshay Kumar's 'Bell Bottom'". ScoopWhoop.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.