The men were held prisoner for over a year before making their escape; after overpowering their captors they repossessed their aircraft, flying it to freedom towards Russia.

In late 1994, the Taliban movement sprang out of Kandahar and by early 1995 had taken control of most of the country south of Kabul, forcing other Afghan groups to abandon territory.

On board the plane were Russian nationals: Captain Vladimir Sharpatov, First Officer Gazinur Khairullin, Navigator Alexander Zdor, and 4 crew members whom were not in the cockpit being Askhad Abbyazov, Yuri Vshivtsev, Sergei Butuzov and Viktor Ryazanov.

[1][4] Negotiations between the Russian government and the Taliban to free the men stalled for over a year and efforts by U.S. senator Hank Brown to mediate between the two parties broke down over a prisoner exchange.

[5] After Hank Brown secured visits to their aircraft for the whole crew they not only did routine maintenance but secretly prepared it for flight.