This film is based on a real incident that occurred in Soviet Georgia in November '83, in which eventually, fatalities caused included three crew (of 7) - including a stewardess (portrayed by Mariya Shalayeva's role in film): but whose cause of death 'remains a source of controversy' [Ministry of Internal affairs assessment*] - plus two passengers (of 50+) and three of the hijackers: The aircraft was stormed after two days on the tarmac, by the then Soviet elite 'Alpha' group; in the aftermath, the aircraft supposedly sustained over one hundred bullet impacts (holes) into it. Of note; "many details of the incident are still unclear and a series of questions remain open." [ *quoted from Wikipedia entry.] One year later, three of the surviving hijackers, Kobakhidze ('Nika' in the film) and the brothers Iverieli (Lasha & Irakli in film ), plus also the priest, Chikhladze ('Father Daniil' in film) - even though not on the plane (and lack of associative evidence), as was declared its 'ringleader' - received capital death sentences and executed (shot) within two months; the sole female hijacker, Tinatin Petviashvili ('Anna' - but real first namesake - in the film), was sentenced to 14 years incarceration.
