NEW YORK (CBSNew York) – A hero from New Jersey and his crew helped US troops end the war in Afghanistan.

CBS2’s Kristine Johnson recently spoke with them about their experience that day and was granted exclusive access to the interior of a military plane, as well as the refugee rescue.

“Eight hundred people on your jet?” Sacred cow.

You may not have heard this radio transmission, but you have probably seen the now iconic photo aboard an Air Force C-17 plane. The Afghan refugees were so tight that no one moved during takeoff or landing.

“We are preparing to do a normal mission, and it has turned into something a little more meaningful being able to do what you saw in this photo,” said Lt. Col. Eric Kut.

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Kut, a New Jersey native currently stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, was the senior officer on this flight, which was part of Operation Allies Refuge, the largest non-combatant evacuation airlift in the history of the United States.

The plane they boarded was a huge military plane capable of carrying hundreds of thousands of pounds, but it was never intended for more than a few hundred passengers.

“Did you know how many people you had on that jet?” Johnson asked.

“We did… It turned out to be 823,” Kut said.

“There was no limit that day. If it comes in, it’s dispatched, ”Loadmaster Tech Sgt. Justin Triola added.

Triola took the photo and used her critical judgment.

“I made sure this area was clear, the edges were clear and everyone was safe on board,” said Triola.

“I just want to have a visual. From here to there, a sea of ​​Afghan refugees? Johnson said.

“The hardest part was after the closing [was] trying to get back to the front, ”Triola said.

“Did you realize how important this was? Johnson asked.

“Definitely not back then, but once we took off it hit home after that,” Triola said.

READ MORE: Colorado Army Veteran &; Afghan interpreter to meet as neighbors

Staff Sgt. Derek Laurent vividly remembers the gentlemen standing at the back of the photo, who helped overcome the language barrier.

“He was seeing our hand signals, telling everyone to sit down,” Laurent said. “Just, you know, keep everyone calm and relaxed. “

(Photo: USAF)

It was August 14, two weeks before America’s deadline to leave Afghanistan, and 48 hours before Kabul fell to the Taliban. With the threat of imminent danger, the crew knew he was exceeding his capacity, but not the weight limit.

“How would you describe the look in their eyes?” Johnson said of the Afghan refugees.

“There was an air of fear, of despair, some an air of comfort,” Kut said.

READ MORE: Connecticut school principal helps students and family escape Afghanistan

Comfort was co-pilot something and Captain Mark Lawson gifted a mother, allowing her to wrap her child in a crewmember jacket. A photo was taken and the jacket will soon have its place in the US Air Force Museum.

“Right now, a sign? Do you have a meaning? Johnson asked.

“I knew we were all going to be fine at that point, because when you see a child sleeping, something comes over you and you want to protect them,” Lawson said.

“You are behind the controls, about to take off from Kabul. What is on your mind besides the mission? Johnson asked.

“The fact that we can bring them back here so they can have that feeling of freedom, get an education, watch these kids come here and play with a soccer ball, and have these abilities to be something and do what they want to do with their life. It was an amazing feeling for all of us, “Kut said.

READ MORE: Manhattan restaurant owner reunites with wife, 3 children who fled Afghanistan

The crew does not know where the 640 adults and 183 children are today.

The image, which has been seen around the world, will serve as evidence of the flight to the freedom they so bravely provided and of the faith the refugees had in the soldiers’ ability to complete the mission.

“They could see the American flag on the tail of this plane. They knew it meant hope, it meant we could get them to safety. They’re like, okay, they can take care of us, and we did, ”Lawson said.

“This is your photo. Did you realize the importance of the record you were making by taking this?” Johnson asked.

“No, I had no idea at the time. Originally I think I took it as proof because no one would actually believe this happened, ”said Triola.

The crew Johnson spoke to returned to Afghanistan the next day to complete another mission.