December 24 in History: IC-814 Hijacking, Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and the Birth of NORAD’s Santa Tracker

December 24 has witnessed several defining moments in global history—ranging from one of India’s gravest aviation security crises to major geopolitical shifts and even the start of a heartwarming Christmas tradition.

For history enthusiasts, History Today revisits some of the most significant events that unfolded on this date across the world.

IC-814 Hijacking Shook India (1999)

On December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 was hijacked in what became one of the most serious aviation and national security crises in India’s history.

The Airbus A300, carrying 176 passengers and 15 crew members, was flying from Kathmandu to New Delhi when five armed hijackers took control shortly after the aircraft entered Indian airspace. The plane was initially forced to land in Amritsar, where authorities failed to stop it from taking off again.

The hijackers then attempted to land in Lahore, but were denied permission. The aircraft next landed in Dubai, where some passengers were released, before finally flying to Kandahar, Afghanistan—then under Taliban control.

For seven days, passengers were held hostage under harsh conditions, facing fear, uncertainty and limited food. During the standoff, passenger Rupin Katyal was killed, intensifying pressure on the Indian government.

Eventually, India agreed to release three jailed militants—Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar—in exchange for the hostages’ freedom. The crisis ended on December 31, 1999. Masood Azhar later went on to found the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Soviet Union Invaded Afghanistan (1979)

On this day in 1979, the Soviet Union launched its invasion of Afghanistan, beginning a conflict that would last nearly a decade and deeply shape global geopolitics.

Soviet troops entered Afghanistan claiming to support the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), which had seized power through a coup but faced widespread rebellion due to its radical reforms.

Fearing the collapse of a communist ally and the rise of Western or Islamist influence near its borders, Moscow escalated military intervention. Within days, Soviet forces assassinated Afghan leader Hafizullah Amin and installed Babrak Karmal as the new head of government.

What was expected to be a short stabilisation mission turned into a prolonged war against mujahideen fighters, who received backing from the United States, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and others. The invasion drained Soviet resources, led to international sanctions, triggered a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and contributed to internal unrest within the USSR.

NORAD’s Santa Tracking Tradition Began (1955)

December 24, 1955, marked the beginning of NORAD’s Santa tracking service, a beloved Christmas Eve tradition born from a simple mistake.

A Sears advertisement mistakenly printed the wrong phone number for children to call Santa Claus—connecting them instead to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) in Colorado Springs.

Rather than turning children away, Colonel Harry Shoup instructed his staff to play along, using military radar systems to “track Santa’s sleigh.” The story quickly captured public imagination.

When NORAD replaced CONAD in 1958, it officially adopted the tradition. Today, Santa tracking uses satellites, radar, fighter jets, websites, mobile apps and thousands of volunteers to delight millions of families worldwide.

This Day, That Year

• 1951: Idris I became the first king of independent Libya

• 1943: Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed Supreme Commander of Allied Expeditionary Force

• 1814: The United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812