The hijackers continue driving, and as they pass through a square in front of the local executive committee building, they open fire on a trailing "Volga" car, seriously wounding the driver.

The criminals pick up their accomplices—Sedoy (Sergey Maksachyov), Zhila (Amayak Akopyan), and Molchun (Kakha Dzadzamiya)—and continue their journey.

Tamara (Anna Samokhina), Pavel’s wife, who is unaware of her husband's involvement in the crime, exits the bus and delivers the hijackers’ ultimatum to Orlov.

She reveals the number of terrorists, the children and their teacher being held hostage, and the presence of weapons, explosives, and gasoline on the bus.

They briefly entertain the idea of South Africa, but reject it because of racial prejudices, and Chile is also ruled out due to political instability.

As the criminals are prepared for extradition, Melkoyants attempts to convert to Judaism in a desperate bid to avoid being sent back to the USSR.

However, the authorities remain unmoved, and the hijackers are ultimately flown back to the Soviet Union, where they are captured by the KGB upon arrival in Moscow.

The first half of the film (including scenes of the taking of child hostages) was shot on location in Vladikavkaz, where the actual events took place, for 26 days.