IC 814 hero Captain Devi Sharan was once spooked by a ‘haunted’ UAE hotel, reveals new book

Captain Devi Saran, the pilot of Indian Airlines flight IC814, which was hijacked in December 1999, later reported a strange experience from a hotel in the United Arab Emirates. The unexpected revelation is part of Dubai-based investigative journalist Mazar Faruqi’s new book, The Mass Files. Sharan gained fame for his bravery during the hijacking of IC814, but the Sharjah Hotel was rumored to be haunted.

Kidnapping in IC 814: A Courage Test
Five armed men took control of aircraft IC 814, which was traveling from Kathmandu to Delhi, on December 24, 1999. Captain Sharan was had to take many flights to places like Amritsar, Lahore, and Dubai before arriving in the Taliban-held Afghan province of Kandahar. 150 hostages were taken captive by the hijackers in return for the release of the three terrorists. Saran was rewarded with the coveted ‘Safe Skies Award’ for his bravery after seven anxious days.

A Spooky Encounter in Sharjah
Years after the hijacking, Captain Sharan encounters a strange apparition at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Sharjah, a hotel haunted by flight crews and frequented during transfers. In The Mass Files, Sharon writes a letter to hotel management, describing strange experiences and expressing dissatisfaction with the food and service. Although Faruqi’s investigation found no wrongdoing, rumors persisted and attracted media attention.

Controversy surrounds the series IC814 on Netflix
IC 814 Hijack is back in the news with IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack on Netflix directed by Anubhav Sinha and Vijay Varma as Captain Sharan.Based on the book Flight in Fear: A Captain’s Story, the television series has caused controversy by downplaying Pakistani terrorists’ role in the incident. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry responded by summoning Netflix’s head of content.

Captain Devi Saran’s courage during the IC 814 disaster is still an inspiration, notwithstanding the issues surrounding it. His unsettling hotel experience in Sharjah gives his tale a fascinating new angle and demonstrates how even heroes may be afraid of the unknown.