On 1 December 1988, a LAZ-687 bus carrying around thirty pupils and one teacher[1] from school 42 in Ordzhonikidze, Soviet Union (now Vladikavkaz in Russia) was hijacked by five armed criminals, led by Pavel Yakshiyants.

Upon landing at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, however, the hijackers surrendered to local troops and police without resistance.

[4] The group of 30–31[1][2] schoolchildren had finished a field trip to a local printing plant when a man approached them saying he was the driver sent to take them home.

[4] The authorities conceded, but the airport of Ordzhonikidze was unable to handle the large Ilyushin Il-76 cargo aircraft that was sent.

It was learned that the hijackers were planning to land in Tashkent to pick up a friend then fly to Pakistan, but changed their mind and chose Israel instead.

Mitzna told that the hijackers demanded proof that they were actually in Israel, wanting to hear Yiddish or see a Star of David.