10 Best Movies about Airplanes

There's a certain kind of movie that consistently grabs the audience's attention, even though its plot predominantly takes place in one location. This category refers to films centered around the aviation world, particularly airplanes.

In these movies, filmmakers skillfully transform plots with limited settings into captivating masterpieces. They incorporate elements like hijackings, natural disasters, or even accidents, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats throughout the duration. So, which movies are these? Let's find out!

1. Air Force One

Upon the conclusion of a conference in Moscow, the U.S. presidential plane departs Russia for Washington D.C. with President James Marshall (Harrison Ford), his family - First Lady Grace (Wendy Crewson), and their daughter Alice (Liesel Matthews) - along with other staff members on board.

As soon as Air Force One is airborne, a radical terrorist named Ivan (Gary Oldman), assisted by an insider, secret agent Gibbs (Xander Berkeley), starts hijacking what's known as the world's most secure airplane. With key figures trapped onboard, the situation grows desperate. In response, President James takes charge to handle the situation.

2. Non-Stop

The Transatlantic airline embarks on its journey from New York to London, carrying over a hundred passengers. On this flight, air marshal Bill Marks (Liam Neeson) is assigned to maintain security. He finds himself seated next to a woman named Jen Summers (Julianne Moore) in the business class.

While the flight is cruising, Bill receives a mysterious message on his cellphone. The text reveals a hijacking in progress and threatens that passengers will be killed at specific intervals. Initially dismissing it as a prank, Bill quickly realizes the gravity of the situation and jumps into action. His mission is to identify the culprit before the plane reaches London.

3. Emergency Declaration

A mysterious man, Ryu Jin Seok (Im Si Wan), is spotted at the airport, inquiring about the day's fullest flight. After an encounter with a young girl, Soo Min (Kim Bo Min), who is also headed there, he decides to board a Sky Korea plane to Hawaii.

As the plane takes off, the man releases a deadly mutating virus. This virus swiftly disperses through the cabin's air vents, triggering panic and chaos. The plane issues an immediate emergency declaration, but no country grants permission for it to land. What would happen to the plane?

4. United 93

This film is based on the harrowing true events of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Four American airplanes were hijacked with the intent to crash into several strategic locations across the United States. Specifically, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, while United Airlines Flight 77 was directed into the Pentagon.

The final hijacked plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was initially aimed at the White House. However, the brave passengers managed to take control from the hijackers, causing the plane to lose control. Instead of reaching its intended target in Washington D.C., the aircraft tragically crashed in a vast field in Pennsylvania. Will all passengers survive?

5. Plane

Brodie (Gerard Butler), a pilot for TrailBlazer Airlines, finds himself working on New Year's Eve. He's tasked with transporting passengers from Singapore to Honolulu via Tokyo. Among the passengers is a prisoner named Louis (Mike Colter), on his way to a detention center in Toronto, Canada.

However, soon after the plane takes off, it encounters severe weather. Lightning strikes the aircraft, causing it to lose control. Brodie quickly attempts an emergency landing and manages to bring the plane down safely. Unfortunately, they end up on Jolo Island in the Philippines, a remote location known for being under the control of barons and murderers. Can they survive on the island and find help?

6. 7500

Captain Michael Lutzmann (Carlo Kitzlinger) and First Officer Tobias Ellis (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) are piloting a European Airways flight from Berlin to Paris. As soon as the plane ascends and switches to cruise mode, a group of terrorists start their horrifying hijacking operation.

Knowing the plane was in an emergency, the pilots respond immediately. However, Captain Lutzmann suffers severe injuries during a confrontation with the terrorists who breach the cockpit. Meanwhile, Tobias manages to send out a distress signal. He continues to defend the cockpit fiercely, even as the terrorists begin to commit murder.

7. Neerja

Neerja Bhanot (Sonam Kapoor), a young 22-year-old flight attendant, works for PanAm Airlines. She's serving as the chief stewardess on flight number 73, traveling from Bombay, India to New York. The journey starts off without a hitch, but turbulence ensues as the plane goes into transit.

The flight is abruptly attacked by a group of Palestinian terrorists belonging to the Abu Nidal organization. Alerted, Neerja swiftly makes her way to the cockpit to relay the crisis. This quick action enables the pilots to escape first, rendering the plane immobile. With remarkable bravery, Neerja steps up to protect the lives of more than 300 passengers.

8. Executive Decision

An Oceanic Airlines flight, packed with passengers, is set to depart from Greece to Washington D.C. While in the air, a group of terrorists seizes control of the plane, taking all passengers hostage and gaining control of the cockpit. This news quickly reaches the relevant authorities on the ground. After some negotiation, they agree to 'board' the plane.

US Army Specialist David Grant (Kurt Russell) and Lieutenant Colonel Austin Travis (Steven Seagal) along with his team are tasked with handling the situation. It becomes clear that the terrorists are demanding the release of their leader, El Sayed Jaffa, from the US government. Faced with this threat, the American military must act quickly.

9. The Captain

This film is based on a true story and recounts the dramatic events aboard Sichuan Airlines flight number 8633. The plane was forced to make an emergency landing when the cockpit windshield shattered at an altitude exceeding 9,000 meters, causing a sudden change in cabin pressure that pulled one of the pilots out.

Miraculously, the pilot, Xu Yichen (Hao Ou), survived the situation. Despite his severe injuries, he managed to return to his duties and performed an emergency landing at a nearby airport. Alongside the co-pilot, Liu Changjian (Hanyu Zhang), they successfully landed the plane, saving the lives of hundreds of passengers.

10. Flight Crew

Veteran pilot Zinchenko (Vladimir Mashkov) and junior pilot Gushchin (Danila Kozlovsky) are tasked with the evacuation of tourists from a war-stricken African country. The situation grows tense when local residents wish to board the plane, but regulations prevent them from doing so.

Upon their return journey, their Aeroflot plane receives another evacuation assignment. This time, they're to rescue individuals from the island of Kanwoo, situated in the Aleutian archipelago, due to an erupting volcano. The initial evacuation is successful, but as lava begins to spread, some residents remain stranded, unable to board the plane.

Fans of both cinema and aviation will certainly delight in these types of films. All of the movies listed above provide a clear picture of events occurring inside an airplane. Besides offering entertainment, they provide viewers, especially those passionate about aviation, with abundant information about various aircraft types and other intricate details. Enjoy watching!