While the show garnered positive reviews, it also faced significant backlash online. Netflix representatives were even summoned by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry over the issue. Weeks after the controversy erupted, the series' director Anubhav Sinha and the cast finally addressed the matter.

The Kandahar Hijack garnered praise but also faced criticism. Some viewers accused the series of misrepresenting the terrorists' religious identities and whitewashing the role of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) from Pakistan.

The Kandahar Hijack director Anubhav Sinha spoke on the challenges involved while making a show about a 'slightly contentious issue' and the need to be 'doubly responsible'. The web series follows the hijacking of the Delhi bound Indian Airlines flight in 1999.

IC814: The Kandahar Hijack, starring Vijay Varma, has sparked a major controversy for misrepresentation and distortion of facts. A section of the internet slammed the makers for changing the names of hijackers (affiliated with Islamic extremist groups) to "Shankar" and "Bhola".

Weeks after the Netflix series sparked controversy around the names of the terrorists, Anubhav Sinha, Dia Mirza, and Vijay Varma have reacted to it.

The Kandahar Attack explores the events that led to the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 in 1999, the aftermath of the incident and how the Indian government overcame the crisis. The Netflix show required a lot of research and detailing,

Directed by Anubhav Sinha and based on Captain Devi Sharan’s memoir, the series centers around the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814.