IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack (2024) s01e04 Episode Script

Episode 4

1
A Sheikh from Dubai is standing behind me.
He's a man who keeps his word.
We try to be good Muslims.
Now you'll teach us how
to be good Muslims?
Are you an Indian?
In the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah says,
"Kill one innocent,
you kill all humanity."
"Save the life of one innocent,
you save all humanity."
I'm from Pakistan.
Only women and children.
Women and children only.
Come on. Let's go.
Come on.
-Careful, ma'am.
-You too.
Where are you taking everyone?
-I can't tell you.
-Is my husband going?
No men are leaving.
Only women and children.
I'm not going without my family.
-Just sit down.
-My husband…
We'll send you later. Sit down. Not now.
Move along.
Hurry up!
Keep moving.
One by one. Come on.
My son!
-He's on the plane.
-Keep moving. He'll join you.
Hurry up.
Please, let him go.
His cylinder's nearly empty.
Go with them, if you want to.
Get some medical help.
Is an exchange possible?
Send someone else in my place.
Son, where is your mother?
Lakshmi, come here.
Sit with him. His mother may be
at the back or up ahead. I'll check.
You hurt him.
-He's dead.
-How do you know?
He's dead.
You know what?
It's your privilege
to still think death is a tragedy.
Sir.
Your son got left behind.
Sit down, dear.
Thank you.
Believe me,
I had no idea this hijack was about me.
200 innocent lives are held to ransom…
Same in our country.
All of Afghanistan is held captive.
Palestine too.
And you're…
pleading for 200 people.
They've slit two men's throats.
One is dead.
Take time off and come with me, Mr. Mehta.
I'll show you what slit throats look like.
The perpetrators must be punished, right?
That's why you're locked in here.
You taught people how to slay innocents.
This is war, Mr. Mehta.
-People die in wars…
-No!
This is not a war.
Whatever it is,
we will stop it.
Stop it.
By God, stop it then.
There's been enough bloodshed.
The NSG team
did get to the airport in time.
The Captain made a big mistake.
He should've waited longer in Amritsar.
We have been informed Captain Sharan
must face a special inquiry.
Poor pilot.
There's "poor us" too.
Sir, tea or coffee?
-Tea.
-Yes, sir.
Tea for me, too.
My tummy aches.
Don't you prefer coffee?
People in the South…
If there's a choice between bad tea
and bad coffee,
I prefer bad tea.
Coffee is like a religion, sir.
There's no place for misinterpretation.
And tea is like blind faith.
Good or bad. Tea is tea!
Why is the Taliban even accepting
this flight?
The Taliban's founder, Mullah Omar,
took power in Afghanistan in 1996.
He was declared Afghanistan's leader.
He gave himself
the title "Amir al-Mu'minin."
Commander of the faithful.
Mullah Omar's dream
was to establish an Islamic emirate
along with other Islamic countries
that the world would recognize.
But the exact opposite happened.
Aware of the Taliban's violent
track record,
most other countries broke ties with them.
India, too, closed its Embassy in Kabul
and severed all relations
with Afghanistan.
Taliban. ISI. Cut from the same cloth.
What's "cut from the same cloth"?
One is exactly like the other.
They're like twin brothers.
I got it.
"Cut from the same cloth."
You're educated.
You speak English.
You must've gone to a good school.
As a matter of fact, Chhaya,
I never went to school.
I was this small…
The Whites had set up army camps
all over the country.
I used to sell tea to them,
and I would mimic them.
That's how I learned English.
Not all English-speaking people
are educated.
We have to land.
We're going to Kandahar.
Your phone's ringing. Answer it!
They must've left Dubai.
-Hello.
-Good morning, sir.
They've just left Dubai.
They're heading for Kandahar.
Shit.
Have you told the boss?
No, let me talk to him.
IC 814, on final approach,
descend to 4000 feet.
Confirm landing gear down.
Wilco.
Eagle 456, proceed to Palam Airport
immediately.
There's a big crowd there.
Get the situation in control.
-Kirpal.
-Yes, sir.
Hurry, go inside
and find out what's going on.
It's almost 24 hours and you still
don't know where the flight is?
We've been standing here all night.
We have family on that flight.
Where did it go after Dubai?
Did the plane vanish?
Who's responsible
for the passengers? You are!
Follow him.
Everyone is requested to stay seated.
You can sit up now.
My name is Burger.
Two of my men are back there.
Shankar and Bhola.
If you need anything, ask them.
We have nothing against you, personally.
Just let us do our job
and we won't hurt you.
But if anyone…
I repeat,
if anyone makes any trouble,
remember,
we will not hesitate to harm you.
Any kind of harm.
It's the month of Ramadan.
We fast during this time.
But you haven't eaten all night,
so we've arranged food for you.
You may now use the washroom.
One by one.
No crowding in the aisles.
Food will arrive soon.
How they behave is your responsibility.
If they behave badly,
we too will behave badly.
The press is talking non-stop
about Afghanistan.
People will panic.
The Opposition will make a noise.
More pressure on the government.
Too much of democracy
in this country, sir.
We should maintain our stand about ISI.
-And the press?
-What about them?
If our official version
is that it's Pakistan,
they'll think it's Pakistan.
Pakistan sells. So why not?
Clear up, please.
-Let us do our job.
-Call PRO.
And let's have a joint meeting
with all the agencies.
Yes, right. Okay.
The Indian press
is after the pilot's blood.
What about the international press?
Thank you, sir.
It's all about Christmas.
Something about a millennium plot.
Al-Qaeda planning to attack America
on the 31st.
The plan suits their president.
And the hijack? Zero?
It's there.
A tiny column.
The western world
doesn't want to interfere
and the Middle East doesn't want to help.
But we've put pressure on the UN.
Taliban.
The pressure should be
on the Taliban as well.
-Who can we talk to in Afghanistan?
-I've already reached out.
-You have?
-Yeah.
I've spoken to Muttawakil,
who is the Foreign Minister of Taliban.
Thirty-two years of age. Knows English.
Very inexperienced.
But he's the bridge between Mullah Omar
and the rest of the world.
Hurry up.
Sit where you see an empty seat.
Captain, please get some rest.
I know it's hard.
But try to rest for a few hours.
You okay?
Business class is reserved
for them and us.
The front toilet to the right is ours,
the left is theirs.
Will they also decide the rules
on our plane?
The last of the coffee.
I mean, who knows
when we'll get any more, sir.
He was wearing a yellow
and white T-shirt. And glasses.
-I don't know.
-He went to the front.
Hurry up. Sit down.
Burger ji!
Where's my husband?
Your husband got down in Dubai.
How could he?
You should've let me go with him.
There wasn't time, so we sent him off.
I begged you to let me join him.
You're lying. He'd never leave
without me. I know him.
He's gone. Control her.
You're lying. He'd never leave
without me. I know him.
Rupesh.
Rupesh!
He's lying.
Rupesh!
He's lying.
Let me look for him. I'll come right back.
-No.
-Rupesh.
Stop the guy at the back.
Wait on board.
-Which of these are vegetarian?
-None.
Meaning?
Actually, let's take the meat out
and distribute the boxes.
Those who want to eat can eat,
the rest can wait.
But most of the passengers are vegetarian.
Burger! Most of the passengers
are vegetarian.
I know.
We've ordered vegetarian. It's coming.
-Take this. Careful.
-Okay, sir.
24 hours after flight IC 814 was hijacked
by unidentified hijackers,
the plane remains stranded
in Taliban-controlled Kandahar.
The government is yet to announce
whether it'll negotiate
with the hijackers or not.
We're now going live to Delhi
where the Prime Minister
is making his first public remarks
since the crisis began.
What do the hijackers want?
They haven't told us.
But whatever they want,
their methods are not the way
to get anything.
India…
will never bow before barbaric acts
like these, nor fear them.
The prime minister there issuing
a strong condemnation of the hijack.
After an all-cabinet meeting
in which it was decided India
will not negotiate with the hijackers.
We will not negotiate.
He's absolutely right.
We have a coalition government.
The other Parties must come forward too.
The PM should take a firm stand.
Sir, what if we don't negotiate?
We have to.
But a political consensus is a must too.
If all parties tell the PM
to negotiate with the hijackers,
then he will.
What shall we do till then?
Make all the preparations your end.
-I removed the meat patty.
-I know, but how am I supposed to…
You have to understand
the dire situation. Let them know too.
India's Prime Minister has refused
to negotiate with you.
I repeat.
India's Prime Minister has refused
to negotiate with you.
If their government
won't negotiate with us, so be it.
Tell the Taliban to refuel and we'll go.
We'll take the plane to Delhi
and crash it into their Parliament.
Doctor, I don't want to talk to them.
Let's go.
They think we'd wait forever.
We'll show them what we're capable of.
Sir, Muttawakil has agreed
to give them fuel.
We have time till tomorrow morning.
We'll find a way out by then.
So far the hijackers of IC 814
have not made any demands.
Nor has our government taken any steps
to free the stranded passengers on board.
However, last night in Dubai,
the hijackers released 27 women, children,
and with them the injured Balram Singh
and the mortal remains of Rupesh Singhvi
were also handed over.
Myself, my family, whole of my family,
is happy but not fully happy.
Because our other
country fellows are there,
and my second son-in-law is also there.
I'm here to defend
the Captain's reputation.
I object to what you're saying
about my husband.
The people who have been released,
I speak for them too,
and for the remaining hostages.
My husband will come back,
but only after he brings
everyone home safely.
They will come back. The question is…
All's well that ends well.
They will come back. This is sure.
Who gets shot first in a hijack, Nandini?
The Captain.
Who's hit by the first bullet
in a commando operation?
The Captain.
He managed to land the plane
again and again. Who did that?
The plane was in Amritsar for 45 minutes,
why was nothing done?
If they won't negotiate, who suffers?
Our people!
If it was up to you, what would you do?
The real question is
why is this happening?
Why are 200 people made to suffer?
And, what now?
Of course we'll keep negotiating, DRS.
With all the foreign embassies,
especially with the Afghan government.
Diplomacy, boys.
The UN and the Red Cross…
why not tell them to fly to Kandahar
with the media?
Maybe that'll stop the Taliban
from giving them fuel.
That's a very good idea, Kumar.
Connect me to Erick de Mul.
He's very proactive.
Get him for me at the soonest.
Sir, tea. For you?
Ma'am, some tea?
-Give my children some.
-Yes, of course.
Fruit?
Sir, fruit?
Ma'am, some tea?
-You must drink, dear. Just a little.
-No.
Please. I request you. Have some tea.
Mister, let the ladies go first.
I've waited for four hours.
I'll be done in two minutes.
The toilet stinks.
They're your people.
It's up to you to control them.
Tell them to go early in the morning.
Not to crowd here.
It's your responsibility.
The toilets at the back are dirty.
Can we use the front?
No one goes to the front.
That's an order.
Are we stuck in a plane or a train?
I must go. My wife's in hospital.
Please understand.
I'll give them my life savings.
-All the money I have.
-Sir.
We can't let you.
Let me go.
I'll get a bus, train, anything.
Sir,
we're in Afghanistan. Kandahar.
We can't let you go.
Please, sir. It's stinking.
Wait! I've asked them.
Doctor said it's okay.
Everybody can go to the front toilet.
Away from this stink. Wait.
Except one.
Except one.
I'll tell you who.
The children have had no food
or water for 72 hours.
Let me go!
My brother is stuck on that plane.
Burger bhai, it stinks up here too.
Get it cleaned.
-The stench is unbearable.
-I'll do something.
Shut up!
I said I'd do something.
Back to your seats!
Bhola! Call Doctor.
Sure.
They say they can't eat or excrete.
What is it, Burger?
Doctor, shall we open the door?
Okay. Open it.
Why did you open it?
-What are you doing?
-Who said you could?
-Don't hit her.
-Shut up!
Just shut up!
I will not repeat myself!
Everyone, listen carefully.
No one does anything
without my permission.
Nothing at all.
You both included.
Don't do anything without asking me.
Get it?
You okay?
Come, Captain. You've rested long enough.
We're going back to Delhi.
The fuel has arrived.
The plane was airborne
for over 16 hours, Chief.
There's been no technical inspection,
no servicing.
-How can I fly…
-We'll crash, right?
So be it.
That's what we want. Let's go. Come.
Let's go.
Come.
Shall we jettison the fuel?
Sir… What?
At peak pressure?
No, sir. They'll kill us.
We're going to die anyway.
Once we take-off…
They're saying we're going to crash
into the Parliament.
-It's our only chance to avoid taking off.
-No, sir. We can't.
You saw them. They slit peoples' throats.
No, sir, please.
-Let's do it.
-No, sir. I'm sorry, sir…
It's an order. Sunil!
I'm extremely sorry, sir. I can't do it.
Forgive me. Please. Sorry.
I'm not a soldier, sir.
I have a family at home, sir.
Sorry, sir. I'm extremely sorry.
You okay?
Sir.
What happened?
Are you okay, sir?
Refueling started.
Sir, is everything okay?
Twenty-five percent.
Friends.
We'll be taking off soon.
We have tried and are still trying
not to hurt you.
You should know that
your government has refused
to negotiate with us.
Fifty percent.
Seventy percent.
Pressure peak.
All good?
What's good?
They don't know how to refuel properly.
The pressure is too high.
The tank might explode.
If this is one of your tricks,
it'll be your last.
Tank almost full.
Now, sir.
-No!
-What did you guys do?
Move!
What the fuck did you do? What did you do?
Did the Captain do it?
No, sir.
Fucker!
If I find you and your team
plotting again,
I'll throw you out.
You know what they'll do to you.
Clear off! Move!
Get out!
I'm really sorry, sir.
Nangia sir, I'm really sorry.
Sorry, sir.
Look. Our people are here to negotiate.
We won't need to crash the plane.
It's a United Nation's plane
sent by your government.
They've sent the press
to keep an eye on us.
Why did they allow them here?
No pictures! No one's coming near us.
Why has no decision been taken?
A UN delegation has reached Kandahar.
I am hopeful…
We are hopeful that they will initiate
meaningful discussion.
We have spoken to both the parties.
The Indian government as well as the…
…the terrorists.
Hijackers.
There will be no bloodshed on our soil.
No un-Islamic act.
Our relatives are stuck on board!
You have to let us through.
Okay, let them in. Let them in, please.
Go in.
The Taliban Foreign Minister
has said on record
that they will storm the plane,
if they hear any shouting,
or any noise
or any shooting from inside it.
My only son is on that plane.
Please be calm, ma'am.
The government and the Opposition
are trying to solve this matter.
You guys are doing absolutely nothing!
We're moving and groping in the dark.
Pompous statements are being made
about the greatness…
But the fact lies,
it was an absolute security lapse.
-You have to do something.
-She's a doctor.
Look at her. She's a doctor,
I'm a surgeon.
We are the backbone of this country,
we are the middle-class.
When the middle class revolts,
there's a French Revolution.
Although the IC 814 incident
has the stamp of Pakistan,
there's no concrete information
about the hijackers,
even after three days.
Passengers' families
are staging protests at various locations.
The pressure on the government is intense.
Everyone is hoping that a decision
will be made as soon as possible.
First, I would like to thank you all
for being here today.
And as the Foreign Minister
of the government of Afghanistan,
I would like to inform the press today
that we are doing our absolute best
in this situation.
Currently, we're providing them
with food, with water,
and with everything that they need.
But why Kandahar?
Because they wanted to come here.
How were you able to prepare
so much food so quickly?
It was served within hours
of the plane landing in Kandahar.
People are paying the price
for the ineffective security.
Whether it's Nepal or India,
someone is to blame.
I don't want to say much
till my children and family
return home safely.
This all-Party meeting is taking too long.
Make a decision. Move on.
We're looking like assholes.
Sorry, sir.
At the all-Party meeting, it was decided
that we would negotiate
with the hijackers.
But they have not sent any proposals
or demands yet.
-This is too alarmist.
-What?
"3 days, 12 hours" sounds like
a bloody ticking time bomb.
Is it not?
People will panic.
-Shouldn't they?
-Panic?
-Ask.
-What?
"Why didn't you know?"
"What are you doing about it?"
-They're doing their best.
-Then people should know.
What?
That this is the best that they can do.
Next time when someone takes a flight,
they must know if anything
like this happens, it could take a week.
And they should pack accordingly.
The headline is your call, Sha.
Change it if you like.
But you and I both know
this is the headline
that deserves to be in the news tomorrow.
Sir.
Vijaybhan ji and I
have finalized the negotiating team
that will talk to the hijackers.
They'll find out their demands,
then we can decide.
So, Ranjan Mishra
from RAW. You're the team leader.
You'll go with DRS and Abhijeet Kumar
from MEA.
And Mukul Mohan from IB.
Who will negotiate?
Sir, Mr. Ranjan is
an Afghanistan-Pakistan expert.
I'm ready, sir.
But, if you allow, sir,
Mohan is a tougher negotiator.
Done, sir. I will negotiate.
Besides we have Mr. Mishra's blessings.
Of course. We'll all be there.
So that's done.
Anything else you need?
The tech team, sir, for communication.
I'll be coordinating.
Other than doctors, nurses,
food supplies, medical supplies?
Sir, I think we should have some
commandos with us.
They'll pass as doctors.
I think it's too late for that.
And also the Taliban won't allow it.
What if they did?
Sir…
Vijaybhan ji?
Is that even a question to ask a soldier?
Twenty, sir?
Doctor.
I have a request.
You have a phone.
No, I don't want to call.
You make the call.
If someone picks up,
then my father is okay.
Please, Doctor.
We've just heard a UN plane
has landed in Kandahar.
But the hijackers insist on talking
to Indian negotiators only.
Hello?
What was in the bag, you fucker?
What was in it?
What did you leave on the plane?
A red bag.
A red bag. What was in that red bag?
What was in the red bag? Talk!
Talk, you fucker!
Seventeen kilos.
Seventeen kilos of what?
Seventeen kilos of what?
RDX.
Seventeen kilos of RDX?
Motherfucker.
Jai Hind, Agarwal sir.
Sir, sorry, I don't know how secure
this line is, but bad news, sir.
There's 17 kilos of explosives
in a red bag on the plane.
Doctor organized it on his own.
Nagpal.
Yes, sir.
-Has Mishra landed?
-One minute, sir.
Call him when they land.
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