Forty years ago, on August 25, 1984, the world witnessed a gripping hostage crisis at Dubai International Airport (DXB), involving Indian Airlines Flight 421 which was hijacked by seven pro-Khalistani militants. As reported by Khaleej Times, the Indian flight was on a domestic route from Delhi-Palam Airport to Srinagar Airport via Chandigarh, carrying 73 individuals, including five children and six crew members. At Chandigarh, seven hijackers, all Sikhs aged between 22 and 30, seized control of the cockpit and directed the pilot to fly to Amritsar and circle over the Golden Temple. Subsequently, they ordered the captain to proceed to Lahore for refueling and then to the US via Bahrain. However, due to adverse weather conditions, the plane was rerouted to Karachi before heading to Dubai. UAE authorities initially denied landing permission, causing DXB to be closed for one-and-a-half hours from 3am, diverting six flights. Khaleej Times’ K.P. Nayar detailed that the Indian airliner circled for approximately two hours. At 4.30am, the distressed captain alerted the control tower of his dwindling fuel supply and threatened a water landing. Colonel Dahi Khalfan Tamim, then Dubai Police commander, stated that local authorities, concerned about the fuel situation, permitted the plane to land shortly after 5am out of concern for the passengers. One hour post-landing, the aircraft contacted the control tower for airport information. Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador Ishrat Aziz, Consul-General P.L. Goyal, and other Indian diplomats hastened to the airport. India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, A.A. Rahim, postponed his journey from Bucharest to Doha to be available for consultations.
Negotiations made minimal progress until UAE Defence Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum joined at 8am. Over the next 10 hours, discussions focused on the hijackers’ demand to be flown to the US. American diplomats intermittently visited the airport, but US Consul David Stockwell clarified that his presence was unrelated to the hijackers’ asylum request. The then Dubai Police chief revealed that the hijackers requested safe passage to the US from Sheikh Mohammed, who clarified that the decision lay with the US authorities. Around 3pm, the hijackers sought to depart for Istanbul, but Dubai’s refusal to refuel thwarted their attempt. Sheikh Mohammed proposed to house the hijackers until the US considered their asylum request. After further negotiations, as nightfall approached, the hijackers agreed to release the passengers on humanitarian grounds. Two airport coaches approached within 50 meters of the aircraft, and a smaller white coach neared the cockpit. At 6.48pm, passengers began to disembark and board the buses, followed by the hijackers who were then transported away in the white coach.
The next day, August 26, 1984, Khaleej Times featured the headline ‘Grateful hostages fly home’, highlighting Sheikh Mohammed’s successful negotiations and the safe release of all hostages, with all hijackers detained. Dubai Civil Aviation authorities provided a lavish dinner at the airport restaurant before the passengers of the hijacked Boeing 737 returned home.
