On December 25, 1994, four GIA (Armed Islamic Group) terrorists took the 227 passengers of an Air France plane hostage while it was still on the ground in Algiers. After long hours of waiting and the murders of several hostages, the plane finally manages to take off but a lack of fuel forces the pilot to make a stop in Marseilles. A French special forces unit is given the go-ahead to launch an attack on the plane, which is aired live on television.