60 Minutes crew Tara Brown, Stephen Rice, Ben Williamson, News Director Darren Wick and David Ballment celebrate at Beirut airport. Picture: Channel 9/Instagram

Shortly after 10pm AEST, 60 Minutes journalist Tara Brown, producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound recordist David Ballment walked off QF8484 at Sydney airport.

The team had flown business class with Emirates from Lebanon via Dubai immediately after being released from their Beirut prison cells.

Their release was secured after a deal with Ali Elamine, who agreed to withdraw charges against 60 Minutes and his estranged wife Sally Faulkner for trying to snatch back the couple’s two children, 5 and 3.

They leave behind a nightmare fortnight and arrive to a packed media scrum and endless questions over the April 7 incident.

Ali Elamine will keep custody of his children.Source:Supplied

Channel Nine is staying tight-lipped over how much money was paid to Mr Elamine though the Lebanese-born surf instructor insists he has not received a cent. News Corp revealed on Thursday night Channel Nine paid US$500,000 to Mr Elamine in the official settlement registered with the prosecuting judge.

The group was detained along with agents from Child Abduction Recovery International, including founder Adam Whittington.

Mr Whittington and one of the operatives, Craig Michael, are still facing charges in Beirut, much to the disappointment of their lawyer, Joe Karam.

“It is not appropriate for Channel Nine to arrange a deal and not include the men they asked to execute it,” Mr Karam said on Wednesday.

It’s been a nightmare two weeks for the 60 Minutes crew.Source:News Corp Australia

Ms Faulkner remains in Lebanon where she was released on bail. She was planning to stay at least one more day to see her two children. Conditions of her release stipulate she will grant Mr Elamine a divorce and custody of the couples’ children. She will retain rights to visit them in a third country or Lebanon, but not in Australia.

Speaking with Nine on the way to the airport, Brown said the first thing she did on release was “call home straight away” and speak with husband John McAvoy.

“But not the kids yet, I can’t wait to speak to them obviously, although they have no idea about any of this,” she said.

More to come.