The Hijack Podcast with Owen Bennett-Jones cover art

The Hijack

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The Hijack

By: Owen Bennett-Jones, India Rakusen
Narrated by: Owen Bennett-Jones
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About this listen

 In 1981, PK326 was on a routine domestic flight from Karachi, Pakistan when it was hijacked and diverted to Afghanistan. The 148 passengers were then held at gunpoint for 13 days in what turned into one of the longest hijackings in history. The hijackers claimed to be fighting for democracy and demanded the release of political prisoners. But when Pakistan’s Military dictator General Zia refused, the killing began.

Veteran journalist Owen Bennett-Jones investigates what happened inside the plane, who the hijackers were really working for, and digs deep into the political crisis in Pakistan that led to the hijacking.

This series contains some strong language and scenes that some listeners may find disturbing.

©2021 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC Abductions, Kidnapping & Missing Persons True Crime
Episodes
  • Episode 1

    Episode 1
    May 20 2021
    A routine domestic flight preparing for take-off, a broken metal detector, and three nervous men rushing to the departure date.
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    25 mins
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  • Episode 2

    Episode 2
    May 20 2021
    The plane is on Soviet soil surrounded by tanks and guns. But whose side are the authorities on, the passengers or the hijackers?
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    28 mins
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  • Episode 3

    Episode 3
    May 20 2021
    The hijackers’ demands, the political prisoners and the fight for democracy.
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    29 mins
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All stars
Most relevant
Great account and interesting peek into history of Pakistan. Well paced and addictive. Highly recommended.

Well researched

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loved eve'ry minute. perfectly put together and told through the accounts from people who were involved including one of the highjackers!

brilliant

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Owen Bennett-Jones does a great job: Bravo. Please do more of these podcasts, this is great journalism 👏👏👏

Brilliant

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An incident I remember vividly as a 12 year old boy and very interesting to hear the background story.

Very good

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This is a thoroughly researched and gripping podcast. It’s absolutely amazing. This isn’t the first great podcast by Owen Bennett-Jones. I heard one on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and thought it was the best podcast I’d ever listened to. This is not very different in that respect because it’s amazing.

This is presented like a thriller as well. It’s delivered great and so much thought and research has gone into it.

I know I’ve already said it’s so well researched, but it is, it really is. And it makes it so good, worthwhile and genuine. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Meticulously researched and gripping

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