IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack (2024) s01e03 Episode Script

Episode 3

1
Prepare for immediate take-off.
-We're taking off?
-Don't know.
Lock everything.
-IC 814. Abort take-off!
-Ask them to hold their position.
-IC 814, hold your position.
-Bowser status?
Not cleared for take-off.
Please be seated. We're taking off.
Please be seated.
Chhaya!
He's going to die.
Hold on. Keep breathing, sir.
IC 814, abort take-off!
IC 814, abort take-off!
Max power.
Bowser!
-Take-off.
-Shit!
-Put me on. Quick!
-Sir.
Sir. The plane has taken off.
I'm sorry, sir.
The canteen was not informed--
Rajesh, come!
This is unacceptable, Vinay.
Somebody had to take a call.
Sir, the government has to take the call.
You're also part of the government.
I'm sorry, sir,
but it's not easy for the PM either.
Your opinion was sought by the PM.
Others have spoken too.
We have a coalition government, sir.
We have to take
all parties into confidence.
Our job is to assess the situation
and find out
what choices the Constitution allows us.
Bureaucracy's role ends here.
The Constitution is for the people.
What about the people?
We don't just have a job to do,
we must also do our duty, Vinay.
I wish the pilot had stayed
a little longer.
The bowser was almost there.
We were ready.
If only we had more time.
He should be here, Vinay.
Sir, he left the meeting because
I disagreed with him.
Okay. I'll wait here till we solve this.
That is great, sir, but…
But what?
But if things go wrong then…
If they do, they do.
It'll be my responsibility.
Our own people are on that plane, Vinay.
They put us where we are.
I don't understand.
Why are we flying so low?
Yes, Jindal.
Any idea how much fuel they have left?
Prabhjot let us down, sir.
The CM refused, so what could he do?
One can't always play by the rule book.
-Sir--
-V K--
Sir, maximum ten minutes of fuel left.
Okay, bring these three files too. Come.
Sir, their civil government members
are the same.
But they're only reporting
to General Musharraf now.
Your call will go to waste.
They won't listen.
May, 1999.
The Pakistani army attacked
the Indian army in Kargil.
Pakistan's General Musharraf claimed
it was not the Pakistani army,
but some local tribals.
There were many Indian casualties.
Two months later, Indian agencies tapped
General Musharraf's phone in China.
-What's the news on that side?
-They've started rockets…
The recording made it clear
the Kargil attack was carried out
by the Pakistan Army.
Pakistan's PM Nawaz Sharif told Washington
Musharraf and his army attacked
without his knowledge.
Musharraf was then ordered
to recall the army immediately.
This caused the General
some embarrassment.
Three months later, on October 12, 1999,
Musharraf overthrew
Nawaz Sharif's government
and declared military rule.
The army moved in as a last resort…
The hijack took place
two months later, on 24th of December.
I'll call Sattar anyway.
They know a 200-ton plane
can't stay airborne without fuel.
They'll let it land, sir.
Landing isn't all, DRS.
We'll need their help too.
No harm trying.
Okay. I'll try and get Sattar on the line.
And, sir, I don't think we should
be throwing the Captain under the bus.
-Who is?
-We are.
Someone has to be
the scapegoat, right?
We're in Pakistan now.
Pray that we have enough fuel
to get there.
Greetings.
I understand the urgency
of the situation,
but you must also understand,
our government has its own problems.
Mr. Abdul Sattar, our offices can
take care of the official paperwork.
I was a soldier, yet I am extending
a hand in friendship.
Our relations could not be worse
than they are now,
but this is our chance
to make them better.
Let the plane land and help us.
The world will take note of the
new Pakistan government's goodwill.
Yes.
Yes. I can see the plane.
Lahore ATC. IC 814 approaching
for emergency landing.
I repeat.
Lahore ATC.
IC 814 approaching
for an emergency landing.
Turn off the runway lights.
The airport has turned off
the navigation aid.
We cannot locate the runway.
IC 814.
Vacate Lahore airspace immediately.
Low on fuel.
Lahore ATC.
We're completely out of fuel.
I repeat. We're completely out of fuel.
Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
Sir, if they're really out of fuel,
the plane will crash here.
IC 814, vacate Lahore airspace
immediately.
IC 814, vacate Lahore airspace
immediately.
-Do you need my help?
-No.
Use your legs!
I'm trying to lock it.
Use your legs as leverage.
Okay.
Burger, tell him
to shoot me or take that gun away
from my neck.
Even you know this is not flying, it's
like driving through bumpy fields.
Sir, there are foreign nationals
on board.
Not good for General Musharraf.
Connect me to Mr. Mehmood.
Low terrain.
Sunil.
Prepare to land.
Sir?
-Where, sir?
-I don't know.
I'm still deciding.
Cabin crew, prepare
for an emergency landing.
Brace for impact.
I repeat. Cabin crew,
prepare for an emergency landing.
Brace for impact.
Too low. Gear.
See that dark spot ahead?
Yes, Captain.
I'll try to land there.
It may be uninhabited.
If we're lucky, some people might survive.
That's the best I can do, team.
Sir.
Engine One fuel running out.
God.
IC 814, Lahore is open for you.
Proceed for landing.
Navigation aid is back.
Engine One flamed out.
Brace for impact.
Brace for impact.
Are you okay?
Heads down.
Heads down, everyone!
Can we bandage him
to stop the bleeding?
-No, Chhaya, the cut is too deep.
-Try this.
-Maybe antiseptic would work?
-He needs a doctor.
-9-G has a doctor. Can I call him?
-There's a doctor, yes.
What do you people want?
What do you want?
We want to go home.
So do we, Chhaya.
If you know what I mean.
1-B.
Sir, please come quickly.
They're really not well.
Uncle.
Uncle. Okay, okay.
You'll be all right. Just breathe.
I'm a dermatologist.
You're still a doctor, right?
You can still help. In some way… He's not…
-Okay.
-Sir.
Just breathe.
Arun, his oxygen's almost out.
-Is there another cylinder?
-Let me check.
Uncle. Okay, just… It'll be fine.
Don't worry, uncle.
Indrani.
Chief.
He's lost a lot of blood.
We must get him to a hospital.
Now.
Someone must have some way
of helping us.
-How much longer do you need?
-Ten or 15 minutes.
Then take-off immediately.
Yes, brother.
It's Amjad. I'm sure.
Who is he working for?
If we knew that,
we'd know their demands.
It's ISI, I'm telling you.
The General wants revenge.
It's a story the press will buy, but…
Let's give the ISI story to the press.
But what do we say in there?
That we are fucked.
There'll be another inquiry soon.
IC 814, refueling is done.
Prepare for take-off.
Let's go. Now.
Chief, I beg you.
Can we leave those two passengers here?
They'll get medical attention.
No.
The doors will not open.
Many are yet to die, Captain.
How many will you save? Let's go.
Cabin crew,
prepare for immediate take-off.
Are we taking off?
Sorry.
Give that to me.
What's happening?
Ma'am, tell us what you think.
Could the Captain
have not stayed longer in Amritsar?
They say your husband should've waited.
Isn't the plane still in Amritsar?
I'll explain, ma'am, please come.
Side, please.
Ma'am, any comments?
Dubai control, this is Delhi control.
Indian airlines, flight IC 814
has been hijacked
and maybe heading in your direction.
No, sir, I'm fine. The girls are fine too.
Sir, where is the flight going now?
Yes.
No, sir. Yeah.
I know my husband is a brave man, sir.
He'll do his duty
like a good soldier. Yeah.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you. Yeah.
Kabul ATC, this is IC 814.
How do you read?
IC 814, go ahead.
IC 814 has been hijacked.
Need clearance for landing in Kabul.
IC 814 not cleared for landing.
We don't have night landing facilities.
You can land at 3:00 a.m. Zulu time.
They're asking us to land
in seven hours.
There isn't enough fuel to stay
airborne for seven hours.
Why not? The tank was just filled.
Even with a full tank,
we can't fly longer than four hours.
We'll have to land somewhere.
-Should I get a doctor?
-No. I'm okay.
-Let me get you some painkillers.
-Okay. Buy some.
Thrash that motherfucker.
See you in 20 minutes.
Give me a dressing kit
and some strong painkillers.
-What happened?
-Bullet wound.
It just grazed him.
-And 15 Xanax.
-15?
-A couple of Xanax could kill somebody.
-So bloody what!
Yes, Ram?
What's in that bag?
So find out.
Sir, Mr. Kaul's on the line.
Okay. Keep me informed.
Sir.
I have bad news, sir.
There's another bag
in the luggage hold.
Ram suspects Amjad
had it planted there personally.
He's trying to find out, sir.
Sir.
-I gotta pee.
-No. Aryan, no.
-I'm desperate.
-I said no.
Can't hold it in. Let go.
-They'll be back soon.
-No!
-Two minutes.
-Aryan, no.
There's no one.
-Aryan, no.
-There's no one.
Calm down.
-I need the washroom.
-Later.
Let me ask.
Excuse me. I need to go to the washroom.
Stay put. I'll tell you.
I've been sitting for hours.
So?
Everyone's sitting too. Just sit.
I'm going.
Sit!
How can you hit a child?
Teach him some manners.
And how to talk to elders.
Sit down!
Anyone else need the washroom?
Heads down.
-Let go!
-Aryan, no.
Why Dubai?
What's their connection with Dubai?
They have to land somewhere.
Kabul doesn't have night landing facility.
SOP, sir.
First they create a drama,
to put pressure on the government.
Then they kill a few people,
so we understand how serious they are.
And then they make their demands.
Sir.
This is the closest point
our commandos' plane can fly to,
without violating anyone's airspace.
The Gulf of Oman is 200 nautical miles
east of Dubai.
20 minutes from here, sir.
But will UAE help us?
Sir.
UAE will have to ask America.
Vijaybhan ji is talking to Washington.
It's Christmas. But old grievances
haven't been forgotten.
A year and a half before the hijack,
in Pokhran, Rajasthan,
America and other countries
disapproved of India's nuclear testing.
America was the first to impose
economic sanctions against India,
and many countries did the same.
I have decided to impose
economic sanctions against India.
Due to India's growing nuclear power,
it was sidelined internationally.
In those trying times, other nations
did not necessarily side with India.
Steve, I understand
that this is Christmas.
But if it was really that important
then everybody will get into one room.
I hear the…
disappointment regarding the nuclear test.
I know you won't intervene.
Can I seek a personal favor?
Can the Sheikhs insist
that all the women and children
should be off board?
Please.
You don't need clearance for this,
I know that.
Come.
Diksha, help Aashna take her shoes off
and give her some water.
I'll get dinner out in two minutes.
Dubai Tower.
This is IC 814.
Request clearance for landing.
IC 814.
Dubai Tower runway 27. Cleared to land.
Wind 270 degrees.
Cabin, prepare for landing.
Landing gear down.
Landing gear down.
IC 814.
Standby exactly where you are right now.
I repeat. Exactly where you are right now.
No.
No, no, no.
This isn't Dubai airport.
I know what it looks like.
This is Dubai airport.
Not their international airport,
but we are in Dubai.
Ask Doctor to call and verify.
Captain,
remember, if you try any tricks
I'll slit your throat
and dump your body outside.
Believe me, this is Dubai airport.
ATC gave us permission to land here.
Your Chief heard the instructions.
Is it confirmed?
Yes.
God be with you.
Doctor, I think we should leave for Kabul.
But we need Dubai to refuel us.
This isn't Dubai.
I've seen it before in pictures.
This is Dubai.
No doubt Captain Sharan had to leave
Amritsar under duress.
In times like these,
you discover how brave a person is.
Whether he's looking out
for others or just himself.
Look, it isn't always
the the security forces' fault.
Mom.
The NSG team
did get to the airport in time.
The Captain made a mistake.
He should've stayed longer in Amritsar.
Mr. Mittal, do you agree
with the DGP Khanna?
Earlier commercial pilots
used to have military training.
I was in the Air Force
before I joined Indian Airlines.
When Papa comes back,
he will scold them all.
The situation is quite clear.
If the plane had stayed longer
in Amritsar, things would be different.
Sleep.
…learn a bit about Y2K
from our technical experts.
If all computers fail,
what will happen to the world?
Captain, please shut the engine
for refueling.
Ask him how many men
are inside the tanker.
What's the crew size on bowser?
Three, plus driver.
-Four men.
-Only two.
-I've some outgoing specs for refueling.
-Go on.
D-E…
…A-D. One.
Ready?
-Where's Nandini?
-Downstairs.
What is this, Nandini?
The lead story for tomorrow.
That "The Captain could not have waited
a minute longer in Amritsar"?
Exactly, Sha.
Have you been watching TV?
Or our own channel?
They all say the Captain should have
waited longer in Amritsar.
There were commandos ready
at the Amritsar airport.
TV is always in a hurry, Shalini.
They don't have time to read.
The pilot's manual says to
"Follow the instructions of the hijackers
and save lives."
The Captain has managed
to keep hope alive with these landings.
This is the real story.
This must go, Sha.
Tomorrow morning.
Tell me what was in the bag
you left in IC 814.
Or I'll inject you every two hours
till you're dead.
Don't let the fucker sleep.
And clean up your wound!
First let the injured,
women and children go.
Only then we will release the bowser.
They're saying until
you let the children and women go,
they will not release the bowser.
No way.
No one will be released.
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