At the time, military dictator Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq had installed himself as the president of Pakistan, after deposing Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1977.

Murtaza requested additional Al-Zulfiqar members to join them and Najibullah provided them with money, explosives, and weapons.

[4] The successful hijacking not only saw many of the released men join AZO, but the organization also welcomed a whole new batch of recruits who travelled across Pakistan's tribal areas and entered Afghanistan.

The organization was mostly made up of young PSF militants, and members of small left-wing groups such as the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party.

[5] One of the three American hostages on the flight, Fred Hubbell, ran for the position of governor of the state of Iowa in the 2018 election.