Resisting strong turbulence, Zhang flew several rounds over the foreign ships before they fled, according to him.

The unit in which Mustafa and Zhang are serving is a squadron under a bomber regiment of the PLA Air Force. The time-honored unit was one of the Air Force's first bomber groups and first garnered a reputation during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53) due to its combat success. It began to use the H-6K strategic bomber in 2014.

As part of their training, the unit's pilots have participated in challenging combat scenarios over the past several years and have developed maneuvers for interservice operations.

In August 2015, pilots from the unit flew their H-6Ks through the Bashi Channel for the first time, marking the longest flight the unit had participated in since its founding.

In July 2016, the unit sent its aviators to patrol Huangyan Island and other islands in the South China Sea.

In May 2018, H-6Ks from the unit carried out their first night patrol around Taiwan.