Original subtitles

[Film based on real events.]

During the civil war in Afghanistan, the Taliban captured the second largest city in the country Kandahar.

Legitimate government troops retreat.

Taliban continues mass executions of innocent civilians.

Istanbul. Turkey. 1995.

Oh, savages...

Look, here we take these eight now, yes?

eight... eight... what's the discount?

What discount for eight?

Sorry, no discount.

Blue color. Blue color. Blue.

- OK. - Blue color...

Nobody does anything. I haven't seen a single Moroccan who'd...

Go away! I'm telling you: no one's drinking here.

Come back tomorrow.

Be cheerful!

On the count of "three". One, two...

Okay, okay. Discount.

OK.... tomorrow!

- One drink? - I'm flying.

Marik. How much is the cargo weight?

Right here... 40 tons.

Fuel?

Well, you're refueling at Bagram, so I thought 65 tons and 6 tons in reserve.

- You'll push it yourself? - Why, Vladimir Ivanovich, he's a first class pilot

the pride of Russia's aviation. You don't know him?

What's the cargo? Well...it says in the documents.

- Cartridges. - What?

I told you it's all permitted, really. It's only accoutrements.

Don't make a complete idiot out of me. Cartridges are not weapons?

Vladimir Ivanovich, really... it's true, everything's legal.

It's all legal by Afghanistan law.

Where are they shoving it? They're gonna break all hatchet-doors, crookedhands

- Marik, there's not enough boxes. - Wha... what's not enough? Hey, hello!

Everything's being done half-ass.

- What's up? - Hello.

- Where are we flying? - Into the sky.

Where's Sergey?

Sergey, I think they're coming for us.

Sergey, hide the flask! Once you're there, call me.

What's not legal? I don't understand.

No one is drinking.

- Why you bothering us? - No one is drinking.

- We're running for it. - What happened? - Kolyan gave one a blow, now they're angry.

We've done swell, what's gonna happen now?

Nothing's gonna happen. We'll call Yurievich, he'll sort this out. Everything'll be OK.

Sergey, don't panic. You'll make it. I'll drop you off in shopping district.

Take a T-shirt.

Thanks, Andrey!

- You saved my ass. - We, Russians, don't let our own people down!

Documents for fuel will be here by evening. Can we fly in the night?

- Stay here and prepare the documents. - What do you mean?

- I mean what I'm saying. - What about in Kabul? What about documents, food, hotel in Kabul?

Vladimir Ivanovich, why's the cargo always on Marik

Listen, Marik, stop wasting my time. You stay here and do all the documents.

Ah... our handsome guy. Had a nice run.

Didn't break a sweat, did you?

Sorry... sorry, Captain

- Why are we not flying? - Let's go, we're flying, flying.

Hello everyone!

- Why did he agree so quickly today? - Who?

- That Marik. - Launch VSU.

- Launched VSU. Generator on board. - Yes to generator on board. - For reference, when are we going back?

- What are we carrying? - Cartridges to Bagram.

What cartridges? We don't have the right to transport weapons.

- It's not weapons, it's accoutrements. Look for yourself. - I could care less.

Cartridges, pasta.

Start the engines. Second, third, fourth, first.

- Hmm, it really is accoutrements. - First started. All engines started.

- Generator on board. Connect the feed. - Done, generator on board.

Isn't there a war going on in Afghanistan?

Vladimir Ivanovich, can we refuse?

And what will I bring to my daughter's wedding, ha? Everything has to be fair.

- Like black and white. Eh, my lad? - Crew report readiness.

Ready... Ready... Ready. Always ready.

Ready... Ask for take off.

Istanbul towers stand, one five...

Report readiness to drive. Ready... Ready... Ready...

Follow the route.

Red signal lights are off. Ready.

Engines in take-off mode. Parameters are normal.

- Crew, lift off. Starting 200. - Speed 160...

- 200... - Take-off continued...

KANDAHAR

Flight Moscow – New York. They're flying six hours already.

All of a sudden a guy gets up, takes out a machine gun

and says: "Passengers! The plane is under our control, now you can smoke."

And you, young one, remember and pass on to your kids: women also want it.

Fine. It's all nonsense. I did this and that. I even offered her marriage.

Wanna know how much I spent on Ninka? A whole car worth.

She probably sees your kindness as a weakness.

Maybe you're just good looking and that explains it?

You see... I just offer them some fun and you peddle lifetime fate.

I understand, Vitek, that as an orphan you really want to create our own family unit...

- Make a bunch more snotnosed Viteks... - Sit down, babblemouth.

My ass is tired of sitting. If it didn't get tired, I'd have been a writer.

Oh, the earrings that I got for my daughter!

- Afghanistan already? - A pity.

Hello, Yuzef. How are you? Yes, Victor.

We flying Bagram.

Have they gone nuts down there?

- What plane was that? - Comrad Captain, Vladimir Ivanovich...

Second station line.

- Plane 842, you are to land in Kandahar. - Reason for landing?

Landing for cargo check.

You are flying over territory of the Taliban Republic of Afghanistan.

We order your plane to land for cargo inspection.

Hello, Volodya. Did you recognize me? How's the family? How are the children?

- This is Adel, do you remember me? - Listen to me, you have no right to ground my plane.

Captain, are you sure it's only accoutrements? Maybe you don't know?

Volodya, you better land. We'll figure it out on the ground. I'm asking you nicely.

- Adel, I have full tanks of fuel. - Land in Kandahar airport, that's an order.

Don't you understand that I'll burn your whole runway?

Connect to home.

Kazan. Plane 842. Do you hear me? Over.

Captain, he only has enough fuel for 40 minutes.

We need to play for time, then get away. I am taking control.

Adel, I have full tanks of fuel. I'm gonna make a couple of circles?

Volodya, what are you doing? I have an order. If you don't land, I shoot you down.

What are they on about, lads? Are they crazy?

- Vladimir Ivanovich, Kazan doesn't answer. - Try again!

This is your last warning. Start to land!

Volodya, third one will hit you. Think about family, think about children, think about the crew.

Captain... captain, let's land. They can shoot us down, Captain. They are crazy!

Let's land.

Land, Captain, they will shoot us down. Lads, let's land.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan

Wait... who is in charge here?

You have forcefully grounded a Russian cargo plane!

Who speaks English! Who? You speak English?

Vladimir Ivanovich, what's gonna happen to us now?

Nothing. Our papers are all in order. We haven't broken any international law.

Don't fret... we'll find a bride for you here.

Sasha, Sasha... look here.

So are we in a jail or something? Cool!

What are you doing?

Give it back, please. Give it, please.

Broke my chain, the bastard.

How are we going to sleep here?

- Psycho. - Guys, guess what I've got?

That's bootleg. Bootleg.

Just a little bit.

Beautiful.

Are you baptised?

- Hello. - Hello.

- Who are you? - I'm the translator.

Mansur... Misha.

- Russian? - No, Afghan.

Misha... is easier for you to say.

Captain, I ask you...

- ... to come. - Where? Without my crew I won't go anywhere.

First you, then your crew. Don't be afraid. There's nothing to fear.

I'm not afraid.

Let's get ready, guys. Sergey...

Let's go, Misha, let's go.

Well anyways, he opens up the window: "Where are you going?"

I am...

Vladimir Karpatov, captain of the plane.

Yesterday our airplane, IL-76 T...

Was forcefully grounded in Kandahar airport.

As the leader of the crew...

I protest.

That's not weapon cargo. That's not weapon cargo.

By all international laws this is equivalent to humanitarian aid...

like medicine...

That's not weapon cargo.

O... Ivanovich!

So Ivanovich? When are we leaving?

Where did they take you, Ivanovich?

- It's alright, everything's alright, guys. - What's alright?

In a couple of days the Consul will come. We're staying here for now.

Do we need to wait long?

Will I make it to my daughter's wedding?

We're staying here for now.

DAY 10 IN CAPTIVITY

Good day, Volodya.

Salam Aleikum.

- Alaikum As-Salam. - You look nice!

Did you get those medals because of us?

- Do all your pilots wear such uniform? - No, only me.

I'm now the head of the air force.

Teach my men to fly. Take-off, navigation, controls.

We'll move you to the governor's house, good food, good beds.

How much?

We'll make a deal.

- How much time will it take? - Three or four months.

- If you said 2 days, I would've given it a thought. - I didn't ask you. Volodya?

No, Adel.

Here!

You'll mark off.

- Mark off what? - The days.

It is now the 3rd week that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation

is trying to resolve the situation with the captive Russian pilots

who were imprisoned in Afghanistan.

The situation is complicated by the fact that the country is in the midst of civil war.

Russian airplane was grounded in the vicinity of Kandahar city...

on territory that is under the control of insurgents who call themselves the Taliban.

What do I care about your Kandahar? Here we have Kandahar from dawn till dusk.

Here.

Could've at least called us by names. Pilots!

You want fame? It's okay, we'll get through. The Consul said they're planning some ransom.

Ivanovich... I'm not Vitek, don't give me your congressional speech here.

They can't forget about us, we're Russian pilots after all!

Yeah... you especially!

- It hurts... there's swelling. - What've you got there? Let me look.

- Looks alright. - Here.

A keepsake.

Sergey...

Sergey!

Where are you going?

I don't get you, guys, you chatter and chatter, like women, you've put on those pyjamas...

You can stay here, if you want, but I'm leaving.

Maybe he's right... we catch a car to the airport, and then..!

Why are we sitting here like some Albanians?

He won't do it again! Don't!

He won't do it anymore!

Who told you that I won't do it again?

DAY 46 IN CAPTIVITY

I don't really feel it... just a little bit...

Only it's really cold.

Mullah said that first Allah must forgive this.

Must study the Koran.

Right here... take it!

- Take it. - I won't read it. I'm baptised.

Doctor!

Give it to me. Where do I read?

- Here? - Yes.

- Hail Allah... lord of the world sent to Earth... - In Arabic.

- In Arabic. - I don't know Arabic. I'll learn then...

All you must learn it... all!

- Here, read. - Me?

I don't know how.

Already?

Let him not do anything. I can't learn it fast anyways.

Vakula... what's with you? You need a doctor?

Then read it. Ivanovich read it and didn't break down.

I can't, I'm baptised.

Then don't read it! Why are you like a virgin: I will learn, I won't learn.

If you want to be healed, then read the Koran.

If you believe your own God, then read "Our Father" or whatever else you've got there.

Let me read it to you. I could care less!

- Where do I read? Here? - Read, read.

So, Vakula, do I read? Or will you read for your health yourself?

Look here... with all those monograms? Well?

That's better! Otherwise he was lying there like in a mausoleum.

- Has it been long? - 3 days.

- How..? - 3 days you were out of it. Maybe eat something?

What day... what day is it?

The 13th, why do you ask?

Wedding... today...

my daughter's.

What...

what do you keep looking at me for?

We'll pay you!

We didn't do anything!

DAY 100 IN CAPTIVITY

Give us the ball!

Give us the ball.

Throw it here!

D'you hear? Give it!

- Give back the ball! - Lad, give the ball.

Beasts!

- Is that so? - Sergey, don't taunt them, it'll only be worse.

Don't, Sergey!

Sergey, don't taunt them.

Sergey, don't taunt them, it'll only be worse. Sergey, don't, it'll only be worse, Sergey!

Sergey!

Sergey, don't taunt them!

Sergey!

Sergey, don't taunt them, Sergey... Sergey!

I won't sleep here anymore.

He snores.

It's getting colder. In winter, they say, it's a total freeze here.

Yeah...

I remember.

Hide it!

From 1983 and till the very...

What have you decided?

Everyone looks up to you. Vitek and...

Roman... and I too.

I know.

They'll keep holding us here...

as long as there's some benefit in it for them.

As soon as... that very moment...

like sheep...

I know, I've...

been there...

What to do?

I don't want to be...

a sheep.

Could you please not smoke on camera? Because right now there's a war against smoking going on around the world.

Hold it.

Why do you walk around without shoes?

Why don't you ask those... bearded men.

They think it's better that way.

What?

Just... tell us the truth.

It's been 6 months already.

Vladimir Ivanovich, there are letters for you here

from your wife and daughter.

You were taking cartridges to a country in war. Do you consider yourselves innocent?

I'm not going to say anything.

She asked me to give this to you.

Captain... this is not allowed! Naked women are not allowed.

- What naked women? - Arms, legs, faces naked - not allowed.

Do you miss your home?

- What? - Do you miss your home?

Home?

I want to send my hello to my family.

Where's the camera?

I want to send my hello to my wife and my Olesya...

my son-in-law...

I can't talk anymore.

- What do you do here? - Played some soccer...

Is that it?

Well...

we live...

From home.

This is for you.

... gave a promise that you will be freed

before the elections.

Sasha, here...

Hey, guys, I brought you some vodka here.

He brought vodka... Go to hell with your vodka.

Thanks a lot to you.

- Could you please take the cup? - It's not mine. - It's just for the shot.

- Like this? - OK.

How does the Taliban treat you? Are you fed? Can you take a shower?

Treatment is... good.

- The water for bath is in a well out there. - Oh, yes, I see, thanks.

Do you receive letters from home?

Yes.

How do you feel about Russia?

How?

Do you miss Russia?

We are Russia.

You have a wife and son, city of Tyumen Pervomaiskaya Street, building 7, is that right?

Only my wife lives there, even so she's in the country with her sister most of the time.

Write it.

In Russian or in English?

In Russian, in Russian.

Vakulenko has a wife and a daughter, they live in Zmeyovka, Harkov District, is that right?

Need to confirm it.

Electronnaya Street, building 50.

Gotova's wife lives in Kazan. Voljskaya Street.

Mullah Abu Umar says that you're going to teach Afghan pilots...

otherwise your family members...

and all your crew tomorrow

How much do we have left?

Till they let us go?

Till they cut us up.

Who are you by rank?

Meaning?

- By staff rank second in command? - Second.

According to mandate the second in command takes control of the ship...

if the commander... is absent... or...

Vladimir Ivanovich... Sorry...

They haven't come yet. Need to wait an hour. ...Namaz (mandatory prayer)... Sorry.

- How is Kazan, Vladimir Ivanovich? - Fine.

Have you seen Tanya Ivanova? Remember her?

She was a secretary at the college.

- I saw her a year ago. She got married. - Married?

To whom?

Some engineer. Adel, what's going to happen to us?

We're going to take Kabul soon... another month or two and we'll take it.

How long are we going to be imprisoned here?

I'm going to have a son born very soon now.

They promised me a house in Kabul after victory.

You haven't answered me.

The house is big, three cars of my own... and another house in Kandahar.

Adel, what's going to happen to us?

Teach, Vladimir Ivanovich, teach my people to fly.

Why do you need that?

Why do you need it? You don't even have cargo planes.

Here are the students.

Three years after his first visit Michael Jackson will once again visit Russia...

- What's with the shoes? - We'll have shoes. They won't play cards when their leader is present.

What education do they have?

They know everything, Allah will help them.

Right here I start the engine.

Here I start driving.

Your money is now our money.

Second round... second round!

Second round.

And sneakers.

Wait! Just a second.

Look, look.

Yes?

Hold your horses. For one bracelet. Stop, stop, stop!

Look!

For myself or you? Myself? Let's do me.

What are you doing? Wait, wait.

Alright, alright.

I'll take from the top.

Alright, wait!

From the top, is it right?

Am I a cheat or something?

That's it 20... is that right?

You lost? It happens. It happens that people lose.

Play again? Let's play again? I have money.

Let's play again, I have money.

Let's play again.

Wait.

That's my album! Mine.

That's mine... my album!

Wait, wait... that's my family album.

My wife's there, my whole family.

Translate to them... that's my wife, my grandkids.

I'm a grandpa already. Translate for him, Misha, translate!

I'm a grandpa already.

No! No!

- What did you do? - Nothing.

- Vladimir Ivanovich... - Calm down, calm down!

Vladimir Ivanovich, Vladimir Ivanovich

DAY 181 IN CAPTIVITY

Looks like a human being now.

Good idea.

And we'll play the winner.

They play themselves, but won't allow us.

Last thing they need is to play us.

What's that?

She cheated on her husband.

I'm not allowed all this...

I can't have this, take it back, take it back.

I'm not allowed, I'm not allowed do this.

Wait, what do I need to do to accept Islam?

Do I go to city administration and write a letter about it? What do I do?

Nothing's needed, just say it and that's it.

- And I will be freed? - Yes.

Where will I live? Here in Kandahar?

If you want in Kandahar, if you want - a different city... wherever you want.

So... could I go to Pakistan?

Later you could go to Pakistan.

I see.

Well? Tell us.

- What do I tell? - Share what you were whispering about.

None of your business.

Vitek... you didn't get it.

- Go on, tell us. - Get lost.

- What's going on? - Our Vitek wants to have circumcision.

So maybe I do. What do you care? Get lost!

What circumcision. Vitek, how could you?

How long have we been here? How much more do we have?

We're sitting like zombies 8th month now.

You think they're gonna let us go?

And will wave with their hoofs a farewell?

Do as you wish, but I refuse to rot here.

In half a year I'm going to Pakistan...

then to the consulate there and then home.

I can't stand your faces anymore!

That's it! Now it's everyone for himself, understand?

It won't help.

What?

They're not fighting for Islam.

The people they kill are also Muslims.

So... even if 100 times...

you become a Muslim, they won't let you go.

They'll give you gun and order to kill.

Do you really believe in Allah?

I don't believe in anything....

I want to go home.

I too...

want to go home.

You think that the whole world must obey you just because you have the nuclear bomb?

In reality you are weak, you are afraid even of your own strength.

In a couple years we too will have the nuclear bomb. Then the world will change.

You have long strayed even from the commandments of your own Jesus,

you allow your women to sell their bodies.

You marry homosexuals and have concerts in your temples.

Because of that we will defeat you, just as you had once defeated Rome.

The poor and hungry always defeat the fat and rich,

if the hungry people have faith and the fat ones don't.

We are fighting for our faith, and you are fighting for the gas in your car's tank.

You and the Americans gave us weapons and taught us to fight, thinking that we'll just be your chained hounds.

But we are no hounds. Now we have your weapons, and we are ready to die for Allah.

We will defeat you.

By Sharia you must all be killed.

All countries of the world. For all the bad deeds that you are responsible for.

All countries of the world will be defeated

as we are righteous Muslims.

War.

Why are you hiding your face?

Who was that?

A big man... a very big man,

the best Muslim in the world.

You asked, so I brought it.

Here...

are maps of all routes.

A couple across the border for next two weeks.

- Do they know? - No.

Let's go, time to teach.

Are you doing it alone?

Wheel of altitude?

Turning on the machinery?

You're not allowed to smoke! Not allowed!

Do you need a teacher?

Look at the photo - granddaughter, she looks like me.

Why not the whole coat?!

No brains at all.

- I'm a grandpa already. - Aha.

I am too.

Look!

I'm already grandfather Roman.

Look... my granddaughter was born...

Olesya.

She wasn't supposed to be born, but she was born!

She was already baptised...

without me...

and I'm here.

People! People!

Look, people! What good granddaughter of mine was born!

People, why are you so mean..?

Why are you so mean?

Why are you so mean?

I told you, go home!

Don't yell! Go take a walk!

Go home!

Go home!

Hey...

Do you remember soccer, ha?

Is it a hard problem?

Down!

Where is it?

Here...

What to do?

- What to do? - Quiet!

Keep still!

Quiet, quiet, quiet.

- Where..? - Under stomach.

- I'm going for it? - Do it!

Where's the spoon?

- Why did it not go off? - What's there?

I'm asking, what's there?

Quiet!

Oi... take it out faster.

Can't take it anymore, stomach hurts!

Can't take it!

Let's do it...

- to one, two? - What to one, two?

We're fine... it's wasn't real!

Is it over?

DAY 250 IN CAPTIVITY

Guys, to the plane quickly, we're flying!

You need to work.... start the plane.

Adel forbid us to start the plane.

I said start it. Now! Right now!

Generator on board, start VSU.

VSU is on.

Volodya... let's fly!

- What? - Let's fly!

- What? - Let's fly! - What?

Have you gone deaf? First, fourth, start!

Generators on board!

- Fourth engine is on. - Vitek, turn on the navigation!

First is on. All engines are on.

50...

Oh Lord!

80...

Go, go, go...

- 110... - Go, go, go!

140...

Go, go, go!

Mechanics for take-off!

Done, mechanics for take-off.

180...

Go, go, go!

- Go! - 200...

We can't fly without Sergey.

- Either all of us or no one. - They'll kill everyone...

and me too! Why did I get involved with you guys?

Don't fear, Misha, they won't kill.

Kandahar tower... send us a trailer truck.

You're a fool for not flying away.

I am a fool.

Would you have flown away?

I said that you're a fool.

We need to start the engines. The plane needs a preventive run, otherwise might be an explosion.

Volodya, tomorrow is a Muslim holiday. Tomorrow everyone rests...

you also rest tomorrow.

The airplane is very expensive.

You could exchange it for a lot of weapons. Tell that to your leader...

Only we have to change the chassis first.

Misha... get us a sheep.

- Just want to eat some meat. - Alright.

Let's take his car? Uazik. Carries the keys on him.

- And then? - Then we go for the mountains, as long as the gas lasts,

once we get to Kabul, our people can rescue us from there.

There are two who sleep on the roof.

I can handle one myself, the other one I throw down to you.

You take him, then we have two machine guns.

Kill them? How?

- I couldn't do it. - And what if he kills you or Vitek?

DAY 379 IN CAPTIVITY

Tomorrow we leave.

- What about Vladimir Korpatov? - We take him with us.

- They're gonna bring some lamb. - Some holiday?

No, not really. Just because.

When is your birthday?

- In March. - Mine is in October; Sergey's in February.

Mine was a month ago.

We missed it... need to celebrate it.

Misha, is that all?

Yes... that's all.

We missed my birthday too.

In that case...

Get the glasses! It's what's left from Marik (vodka).

A pilot in Russia is more than just a pilot.

- Let's do it. - Not full, not full.

Remember, how when we were flying from Buenos Aires Marik loaded up all the tanks with alcohol?

We could barely lift off.

- The hangar roof was torn off. - Well, we lifted-off just fine.

I remember Vakula was yelling back then: "Oh, dear, dear, we're going to crash!"

Let's drink to Ivanovich then?

Let's. Happy birthday!

Thank you.

Oi, dear, dear, oi!

- Vakula, you had a granddaughter born. - Well?

To the granddaughter then?

Listen, why did the daughter give birth so soon?

Before the wedding she already had a tummy.

- To the granddaughter! - To the grandfather.

Oi, dear, dear... oi!

Sergey, when in February is your birthday?

the 23rd...

The Day of Soviet Army.

Thank you.

My mother-in-law's is on the 29th.

To the mother-in-law then!

- When are you gonna find a bride? - As if I can find anyone here.

They all walk around covered with bags here.

Listen, Sergey... Only give me an honest answer...

Did you have anything with Ninka?

With Nina?

I didn't have anything.

No, Ivanovich, if you mean that particular incident...

no... no... then she came herself,

with a cleavage... all exposed.

She had a bottle of champagne, the cake "Fairytale" with roses on it...

the cabin was small, as you understand...

Give me a bottle of water.

What are you laughing at Vakula?

Where's Vladimir Ivanovich?

Vladimir Ivanovich betrayed us.

We need to change a wheel. It has a flat tire.

Does a MiG airplane have a speed of 1000 km?

What are you standing around for?

We need to change a wheel.

C'mon, c'mon, c'mon... roll it... towards me.

Taxiing area. The tower is here. One anti-aircraft gun. Another one - over here.

Usually no one there.

Take-off ramp ends right at the minefield, so either we fly or we...

We fly!

We fly.

The hangar holds 4 fighter aircraft, 2 Sukhois in encasements, 2 old MiGs not encased.

They'll catch up to us.

They only have fuel for 1 hour. If they fly 20 minutes later, they'll catch up to us in 40,

that's a point of no return.

What do we do about them? There's about 40 of them there.

Well...

lure a couple into the plane and we'll have two machine guns.

We'll raise noise.

In half an hour, today's Friday they have Namaz, they're all going into that tent over there to pray.

You should read the Koran.

Everything's ready, Vladimir Ivanovich, we can change the wheel.

There's someone there.

Where, who?

I'll take a look.

Where? Get back! Where?

Can I ride? What's it to you, I haven't ridden for a year.

Listen.

You have my watch... it's Swiss... and I'll do a couple of circles, alright?

I'll ride just a little bit and that's it.

Why are you standing? He'll do everything himself. Let's get to work.

- That's it. - They will shoot you for this, Vitya!

I haven't ridden for 9 months.

- I'll give it back right now. - They'll shoot! Don't!

Super!

I'll be quick and will give it back.

Can you do this? I haven't ridden without hands in a long time,

I need to ride in a straight line, understand? In a straight line.

I'll be done in a sec!

Just a little bit left.

There's nobody there, just a dummy and that's it.

They're not leaving!

Let's get in place... and start.

No, you cannot start it.

We need to start all engines to warm them up.

It can blow up, it'll tear the whole airport apart. Translate.

- Generators on board. - Yes!

Launch VSU.

- Where's Vladimir Ivanovich? - He knows what he's doing.

- Launch the feed. - VSU is on.

Turn on the engines. In the order: 2,3,4,1.

2nd engine is on.

VSU is dead.

What?

VSU has died.

The leader is asking... are you going to take long?

You changed the wheel, and we need to go.

We need a generator. VSU needs to cool off, and then we'll launch it again... that's it.

How long to cool off?

20 minutes... till you get the generator here.

20 minutes.

Sergey... let's go for a smoke.

Don't hurry... don't start all the engines right away

Sublevel 1900. Heat over 50. The turbines can't handle it.

Start one and then in order all the rest.

They're not leaving for prayer. You said they will. But they're not.

Do you know what the weather's like in Kazan?

- You have 30 minutes. - Maybe you'll stay?

I can't, I have to go pray.

For example, we take a jack, right?

And turn him into... an ace.

Got it?

There's another game...

Everyone, watch Vitek's back!

Sergey, stay with me.

Now we'll play an old Russian game. Listik (leaf)... look.

3 cards: 2 black and 1 red.

Look, everything is very simple. Look closely and win undoubtedly.

Krasnyi, krasnyi... Understand, red? 2 black, 1 red.

Play for luck, auto, and villa.

If you win, you get... you get...

a ring.

From three cards you must select the red king.

Why are you so sad, brother, you won!

Let's do another one...

VSU is launched.

..it's all fine, fine, go ahead, choose a card.

Launch 2nd.

2nd launched.

Launch 3rd.

3rd launched.

Driving out.

Generator on board. Turn on the feed.

Gentlemen, gentlemen, look closely...

Generator is on board.

Captain, look right!

They're going to cut us off.

- We can't drive to the start of runway. - We start from the middle. - We won't make it.

Fourth and first launched.

- We won't gain the speed. - We'll see.

Take-off mode.

- Engines in take-off mode! - Take-off continued.

Speed 100...

120...

We won't make it.

140...

160...

- We won't make it, Captain! - We'll see.

- 190... - Release slats.

200...

Runway is ending!

Continue take-off.

- We won't make it, 220... - Lift off!

Altitude 200.

Speed 220... Speed is not increasing! We'll fall!

Remove landing gear!

Altitude 100!

Speed 220!

Remove slats in 3 steps.

220!

225!

Altitude 50!

Speed 230!

280!

300!

- Slats removed. - Entering climb out.

Altitude 100.

500...

800...

Navigation under my control.

Flight level 300.

On August 3rd, 1995, airplane IL-76 with a crew of 7 people was taken hostage by Taliban and grounded in Kandahar airport.

On August 16th, 1996, after 378 days in captivity, IL-76 crew were able to escape by flying away on their plane. From Kandahar airport they flew to United Arab Emirates. 2 days later they were home.

Captain Vladimir Sharpatov and second pilot Gazinuru Hairullinu were honored with the title "Hero of Russia."

Plane engineers Ashat Abbyazov, Sergey Butuzov, Victor Ryazanov, and also flight-manager Munir Faizulin were decorated with the "Order of Courage."

Vladimir Karpatov - ALEKSANDR BALUEV Sergey - VLADIMIR MASHKOV Sasha Gotov - ANDREY PANIN Vitek - ALEKSANDR GOLUBEV Roman Vakulenko - BOGDAN BENYUK

Director ANDREY KAVUN

SUBTITLES WRITTEN BY: Katia Kutyavina (Seattle, WA, USA) e-mail: djkatish@gmail.com