Air Force One 1997

The inaugural scene of the film sets the stage for a high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled adventure as a collaborative effort between Russian Spetsnaz and American Delta Force operatives results in the successful capture of General Ivan Radek, the ruthless dictator of a fictional “terrorist regime” in Kazakhstan. This bold move by President James Marshall (Harrison Ford) marks a significant shift in global politics, as he announces to a packed state dinner in Moscow that the United States will no longer engage in diplomatic niceties with terrorists or turn a blind eye to brutal dictatorial regimes - a stance eerily reminiscent of the conflicts that ravaged Bosnia and Kosovo.

As the evening wears on, Marshall’s entourage boards Air Force One, accompanied by his family: First Lady Grace and First Daughter Alice. Little do they know, however, that a group of six Radek loyalists and Soviet ultra-nationalists, led by Egor Korshunov and posing as a Russian news crew, have surreptitiously boarded the plane. It isn’t long before this sinister duo, aided by Gibbs, a mole within the Secret Service, hijacks the aircraft, claiming multiple lives in their bloody coup.

In a desperate bid to safeguard his life, Marshall’s agents scramble to transport him to an emergency escape pod as Korshunov’s men close in. Meanwhile, the pilots valiantly attempt to make an emergency landing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, only to be thwarted by the hijackers, who breach the cockpit and slaughter the pilots before setting a course for Kazakhstan.

As panic sets in among the remaining passengers, the security services manage to get the President to safety, watching as the escape pod disengages from the aircraft and parachutes down into German territory. Korshunov, however, remains firmly in control, rounding up the passengers in the conference room and establishing a dire ultimatum: unless Radek is released, they will begin executing hostages at half-hour intervals. The first victim of this brutal campaign is National Security Advisor Jack Doherty, whose lifeless body serves as a stark reminder of the terrorists’ ruthless resolve. As tensions escalate, Korshunov’s sinister grip tightens around the President’s family - First Lady Grace and First Daughter Alice are taken hostage and brought to the cockpit, where their very lives hang precariously in the balance.

As the desperate search for Marshall yields nothing, it’s revealed that he was indeed hiding in plain sight - still on board the beleaguered aircraft. The revelation of his storied past as a decorated Vietnam War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient only adds to the weight of his determination. Meanwhile, Korshunov unleashes a gruesome display of brutality by cold-bloodedly murdering Press Secretary Melanie Mitchell in front of Marshall’s terrified family, as well as the plane’s occupants via an intercom broadcast. Huddled in the avionics bay, Marshall seizes the opportunity to initiate a fuel dump, forcing Korshunov to demand an emergency refueling stop at 12,000 feet - a move that would allow hostages to escape via parachute.

Under the guise of safety, Marshall sneaks back into the conference room where the passengers are being held, expertly guiding them to the parachute bay. As most of the hostages make their daring escapes, chaos erupts when Korshunov’s men discover them, leading to a catastrophic depressurization of the parachute bay and a tragic loss of life. The resulting turmoil also disrupts the refueling process, setting the refueling plane ablaze and causing it to explosively disintegrate mid-air.

With his hostage situation spiraling out of control, Korshunov takes Marshall captive, along with Major Caldwell, Gibbs, and Chief of Staff Lloyd Shepherd, threatening to slaughter Alice unless he agrees to negotiate with Russian President Petrov for the release of Radek. As Radek prepares to make a break from prison, Marshall makes his daring escape, dispatching the last two of Korshunov’s minions. Korshunov then drags an innocent Grace down to the cargo bay, where he callously jettisons all remaining parachutes except for the one he’s wearing. In the ensuing melee, Marshall binds a cord around Korshunov’s neck, defiantly declares “Get off my plane!”, and deploys the parachute, ultimately snapping Korshunov’s neck as his lifeless body drifts away from the aircraft.

With all hijackers neutralized and control regained, Marshall halts Radek’s release, only for him to be fatally shot in a desperate bid to escape. Marshall then assumes command of the plane’s controls, steering it towards the nearest airbase. Meanwhile, back at the White House, Bennett discovers six Kazakh MiG-29 fighter jets piloted by Radek loyalists in hot pursuit, warning Marshall of the impending threat. A squadron of F-15s arrives to engage the MiGs, with one pilot sacrificing his life to prevent a missile from striking the plane. In the aftermath, Air Force One is left badly damaged and leaking fuel, its chances of a safe landing severely compromised.

As the MC-130 Hercules plane hurtles towards its inevitable demise, a desperate effort unfolds to evacuate survivors via zip-line. Marshall, driven by his paternal instincts, insists that his loved ones and a gravely injured Shepherd take precedence over all else. The situation reaches a critical juncture when the last engine sputters out of commission, prompting the remaining rescuer to reveal he can only accommodate one more evacuee. Seizing the moment, Gibbs (revealing his true nature) coldly dispatches both the rescuer and Caldwell, his duplicitous facade shattered.

Meanwhile, Marshall seizes control, subduing the would-be assassin before the steel cable detaches from the doomed plane, securing the President’s safety. The Hercules, its mission accomplished, plunges into the Caspian Sea, bisecting in a catastrophic splash that claims Gibbs’ life. As the dust settles, the nation erupts in jubilation as the President is winched to safety, while Marshall reunites with his family and pays tribute to the valiant crew of the Hercules, who subsequently alter their call sign to Air Force One, forever etching their heroic exploits into history.