The Hijacking of the flight IC 436

My first posting was as the Deputy Director of the Doordarshan Kendra Mumbai. I had gone to Lucknow for official work. Upon my return, on 10th April 1993, I boarded the Indian Airlines flight IC 436 from Lucknow to Delhi at 4pm. It was suppose to be a 50 minute flight and had 59 passengers. But destiny had other plans. There was this group of four students in their twenties who also boarded the flight with us. They were lanky boys, each weighing not more than 55 to 60 Kgs. Once inside the aircraft, they had different ideas.

Old Amausi Airport Lucknow

After the take off and completion of usual security formalities by the air hostess, we were looking forward to the light snacks, when we heard the voice of the captain.. "Kind attention ladies and gentle men, this is your captain speaking.. Well our flight has been hijacked and we are not going to Delhi.. Let me inform you"..... And all of a sudden the English speaking, mild mannered captain was overtaken by a rough youth voice in chaste Hindi." Idhar dijiye microphone'' and he continued.."aap log dhyan se suniye ..hum logo ne is  hawai jahaj ko hijack kar liya .hai. Humaare pass RDX hai.. agar aap logo ne hamaari baat nahi maani to hum is jahaz ko uda denge.. hume apne marne ki koi fikar nahi.. hum to sar pe kafan baandh kar nilkle magar aap mein se koi bhee zinda nahi bachega.. aap sub apne apne sir neeche kar ke baithe rahiye.. aage kiya karna hai batayenge"( Translation in English "Give me the microphone...listen carefully...we have hijacked this plane..we are loaded with RDX explosive.. if you do not obey our orders we will blow this plane...we are not afraid of dying.. But none of you will survive..  Keep your heads down and remain seated.. Next instruction will follow.")

The hijacked Passengers

          What followed was a dead silence in the aircraft. Passengers were looking at each other’s face ..is it some kind of a joke or its real..There were altogether  four hijackers two in front and two at the rear, holding the Tin(pan masala) box close to their chest, which they claimed had RDX  Suddenly one of the hijacker passed by. I was sitting in the third row on the window seat. In the front row two army officers were seated. One of them who was tall and well built was quite tipsy.  All of a sudden he stood up and wanted to catch hold of the hijacker who passed by. The hijacker shouted 'Inko baithne ko bolo..khud bhee marenge aur aap logo ko bhee marvaayenge."(Translation in English “Ask him to remain seated.. or else every one dies") and he pointed towards the small tin box in which he was suppose to be carrying RDX- the plastic explosive.

RDX...The Plastic Explosive

 In those days RDX was a terror. The bomb last of 1992 at Mumbai was carried out by using RDX. Nobody wanted to take chances. Somehow people managed to calm the army officer down. Mean while the flight continue to hover in circles between Lucknow and Delhi. I was 39 when this happened. My kids were not even 10 years of age. This is no way to die.  As I was in my thoughts, suddenly the voice of the hijacker was again on the public address system. "We have only one demand.... the UP govt should grant Rs one crore in aid to our Arts college, Lucknow. Our college is in a bad shape" .The student hijackers were demanding postponement of examination, grant of more funds to the college, investigation of corruption charges against the principal of the college and introduction of post graduate course.  

Arts College , Lucknow

 They continued "We are not asking anything for ourselves. We have sold our paintings to buy these tickets and hijack the plane. This was the only way to highlight the plight of our Arts College. We have chosen today's day because the daughter of the Principal of the Arts College is with us in flight. We will only speak to the Governor of UP”. And then the pilot was on the public address system “Yes they are right. We are trying to establish contact with the Hon'ble Governor of UP. We may also have to refuel in the sky .So please stay calm and remain seated.".

The refueling in the sky..

 Once again the high spirited army officer got up from his seat and once again he was pushed back.  The tension continued to prevail for more than one hour. Nobody knew if they will be able to touchdown alive .Specially after the pilot's announcement that plane was running out of fuel. I could see people praying and some of them crying. Reaction of the passenger was creating a fear in each other’s mind. And all of a sudden the plane started losing height and all hell broke loose....

The ill fated IC 436 loosing heights....

LET ME GIVE A BREAK TO THE STORY, SO THAT THE SUSPENSE CONTINUES IN THE SECOND PART OF THIS POST....
Do watch out Part 2 T.R.U.E Talks on the Hijacking of the flight IC 436 in the next post.