Headscratchers / Air Force One

• When some of Air Force One's crewmembers fall off the plane due to an explosion while not wearing parachutes, shouldn't the crewmembers who fell of with parachutes try to reach and save them? Because once they fall off the plane, they just save themselves and the others keep falling.
  • None of them are experienced jumpers. Trying to save people without parachutes is very difficult and everyone was already taking a big risk parachuting out of the plane.
• How did Agent Gibbs plan to escape from Air Force One if he had actually succeeded in killing President Marshall? Before trying to force Marshall to give him the remaining emergency strap, Gibbs had killed the parajumper and Major Caldwell and the Air Force Rescue HC-130 crewmembers had a clear view of Air Force One. If Gibbs had murdered Marshall, shouldn't the Air Force Rescue HC-130 crewmembers have pulled the strap away from Gibbs or dropped the strap to ensure his death for his treason?
  • Gibbs could have claimed that Caldwell was the mole, Caldwell killed Marshall, and he (Gibbs) killed Caldwell. Remember [wounded] Shepherd had already been evacuated. It would be very difficult to pin down who did what in the scuffle and Gibbs was still believed to be a loyal Secret Service agent.
• The terrorist’s motivation was to get General Radeck released, which happened a few weeks prior to the hijacking. How did they put together a plan to seize Air Force One in such a short amount of time, even with an inside man? It took years to plan 9/11, and this is the most secure aircraft in the world.
  • Refuge in Audacity. Considering it basically amounted to a suicide mission, they ultimately decided it was worth the risk, considering the possible reward of actually capturing the US President. It was also pre-9/11; while the security measures would have still been stringent, the idea of such a bold move by terrorists was still practically a fantasy.
• When General Radek is being processed for release, he is given back his uniform and changes into it before walking out to the waiting helicopter, just as Marshall calls Petrov that he is safe. Petrov immediately calls for Radek's recapture, and Radek is shot trying to run to the helo. Had Radek not taken the time to change, he would have gotten away.