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What was the intelligence failure that led to the hijacking of Indian Airlines’ flight IC814 from Kathmandu? Could the aircraft have been stopped at Amritsar airport? Was a commando raid planned on the aircraft? How was Rupin Katyal killed? Was the plane’s destinationalways intended to be Kandahar? Was it merely prophetic that the hijackers had predicted the end of all negotiations on the millennium eve?
These and other questions are answered in this blow-by-blow eyewitness account by Flight Engineer
Anil K. Jaggia who breaks the silence around the hijacking, with investigative reporting by senior correspondent Saurabh Shukla of The Indian Express.
" On board IC 814
We were now entering Oman airspace but Muscat told us that we were not allowed to land. IC 814 had indeed become the a laawaris (orphan) flight. The flight headed course for Dubai. The situation was no better there. Both Dubai and Sharjah reported that IC 814 was not welcome there. Their runways were blocked and the runway lights were switched off. All navigation aids were also switched off. Captain Sharan told UAE ATC that we had guns pointed at us and had no option available to us. UAE continued to refuse us permission to land.
In the executive class cabin
Back in the cabin, Rupin Katyal was moaning in his seat. "Papa, pani," he kept repeating, Papa, pani . . . Papa, pani (water.)" Behind him, Satnam was also asking for water.
An airhostess came to serve the handcuffed passengers water directly from a bottle of mineral water. But, perhaps on instructions from the hijackers, no water was served to the injured. Instead, Doctor ordered the airhostess to cover their faces with blankets. A new blanket, purchased in Kathmandu by one of the passengers, was thrown over Katyal`s bleeding body. Under that shroud, at some point that terrifying night, the 25-year old honeymooner breathed his last."
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Pages : 224
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