Unraveling the Mysteries of the IC 814 Kandahar Hijacking: The Red Bags and Black Briefcase
Even after 25 years, the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814 continues to be shrouded in mystery. Among the unanswered questions are the contents of two red bags and a black briefcase, which played crucial roles during the crisis.
The first red bag was allegedly placed in the cargo hold by the terrorists at Kathmandu Airport and was rumored to contain explosives. However, no official confirmation of its contents has ever been made. The second red bag, carried by then Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh during negotiations, sparked controversy, with speculation that it contained a ransom. Despite the rumors, Singh consistently denied any ransom was paid.
A black briefcase carried by Indian officials on the flight to Kandahar reportedly contained $100,000 in cash, intended to cover landing and refueling costs in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. This detail was confirmed in later reports but remains only a small piece of the broader mystery.
These enigmatic items—the two red bags and the black briefcase—continue to captivate public interest. The story of IC 814 remains a reminder of the complex and often opaque nature of international negotiations during a crisis. As new accounts surface, some mysteries might be solved, but others are likely to remain unsolved forever.
