Air Force One

President James Marshall (Ford), on a visit to Moscow, announces in a speech that the United States will not negotiate with terrorists, after an operation by U.S. and Russian Federation special forces captured the tyrannical leader of Kazakhstan, General Ivan Radek (Jürgen Prochnow). With his visit to Moscow complete, the President is now on his way home to Washington, D.C. aboard Air Force One. However, Soviet neo-nationalists posing as a news crew have infiltrated the plane.

One of President's Secret Service detail, Gibbs (Xander Berkeley), works alongside the terrorists; once the plane is aloft, he kills three fellow agents before opening the on-board weapons locker. The terrorists - led by Egor Korshunov (Gary Oldman) - storm the plane and take hostages, including Chief of Staff Lloyd Shepard (Paul Guilfoyle), Military Advisor Major Caldwell (William H. Macy), National Security Advisor Jack Doherty (Tom Everett), and Marshall's wife and daughter. Several others are killed during the shootout, including the military officer charged with carrying and protecting the nuclear launch codes of the United States Strategic Command (carried in a briefcase known as the football). The flight crew declare an emergency and prepare to land at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The President is evacuated to an escape pod by numerous Secret Service agents, who are killed defending him. At the last moment, Marshall flees the escape pod and retreats to the baggage deck. The terrorists kill the pilots and take control of the plane, which takes off again, to the surprise of standby Ramstein crew.

In Washington, D.C, Vice President Kathryn Bennett (Glenn Close) arrives at the White House, assessing the situation alongside the Secretary of Defense Walter Dean (Dean Stockwell) and other officials; they soon learn that Marshall did not board the escape pod. The terrorists call the Vice President, demand the release of General Radek, and threaten to begin executing hostages. This threat is soon realized -- National Security Advisor Doherty is shot and killed when Bennett calls to report that Russian President Petrov will not release Radek (he tells Bennett he would only do so to save President Marshall).

Still on the baggage deck, having already killed one terrorist, Marshall finds a satellite phone. While attempting to call the White House, a second terrorist finds Marshall and detains him; nevertheless, the call reaches the Situation Room. Marshall manages to covertly order an attack on Air Force One so he can subdue the terrorist. The plan works, and Marshall attempts a fuel dump to land the plane. Recognizing the presence of someone on the baggage deck (the terrorists assume him to be a Secret Service agent), Korshunov executes Deputy Press Secretary Melanie Mitchell in an effort to force Marshall's surrender. While two of the terrorists attempt to restore the fuel controls, Marshall slips by and takes another terrorist hostage, using his keys to free the hostages. Major Caldwell proposes a ruse whereby an air-to-air tanker will force Air Force One to an altitude that permits parachuting from the rear of the plane. Many of the hostages escape with parachutes, but then the tanker explodes, stranding the President and his family, Caldwell, Shepard, and Gibbs, all of which are captured and taken to Korshunov.

Korshunov forces the President to call Petrov to secure Radek's release. In Washington, Dean persuades the Cabinet to sign a Presidential Incapacitation Document, but Bennett refuses to sign it. As Radek's release is prepared, Marshall and the hostages free themselves and kill the remaining terrorists, but Korshunov captures Grace and also shoots Chief of Staff Shepard and flees to the parachute ramp. In a vicious fight, Marshall manages to eject Korshunov from the aircraft by deploying the latter's parachute while it is wound around his neck. Marshall calls Petrov before Radek's release, and prison guards kill the former general as he flees.

Kazakh MiG fighter jets loyal to Radek reach Air Force One and inflict serious damage on its engines and maneuvering mechanisms. U.S. fighters intercept and fend off the hostile aircraft just in time to save the President's plane. With Air Force One unable to land, an air-to-air ropeline rescue is arranged. Before the evacuation can be completed, the plane begins a rapid descent with Marshall, Gibbs, Major Caldwell, and a rescuer. Marshall insists on rescuing his family and then a wounded staff member before he evacuates the plane. Once it is the President's turn to leave, Gibbs drops all pretense, killing two of the others. Marshall fights with Gibbs, and escapes on the ropeline, leaving Gibbs aboard the 747, which crashes into the sea. The C-130 rescue aircraft announces that it is now "Air Force One", and the film ends with the plane flying toward safety with the F-15s flying and the First Family aboard.