The Korean disaster film “Hijack 1971” follows the heroic tale of a pilot during a plane hijack attempt. Written by Kim Kyeong-chan, the film is based on the hijack attempt of a Korean Air F27 airliner in 1971. It follows the intense events during this chaotic journey that tested the patience of the plane crew and the passengers. With the keen directorial choices by Kim Seong-han, the film turns into a taut thriller that holds your attention even if you know the outcome of the true story. The film stars Ha Jung-woo, Yeo Jin-goo, Sung Dong-il, and Chae Soo-bin in the central roles.
Spoilers Ahead
Hijack 1971 (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
Directed by Kim Seong-han, “Hijack 1971” revolves around the events from 1971 when the Korean Air F27 airliner was hijacked by a terrorist with staunch political beliefs. It is a work of fiction based on these historical events where certain details are dramatized for cinematic purposes.
What happens in ‘Hijack 1971’?
“Hijack 1971” begins with an event from 1969 when the YS-11 airline was hijacked by some terrorists. While passing by the plane over the Gangwon Province, Tae-in (Ha Jung-woo) noticed the captain’s seat empty. The first officer Seo Min-su (Choi Kwang-il) nods at him, presumably signalling that he is helpless. Tae-in suspects someone is in the cockpit controlling Min-su’s decisions. At the time, Tae-in was ordered by his South Korean superiors to attack this plane in order to protect it from entering North Korea. But he didn’t do it, fearing it would kill most of the passengers.
Because of Tae-in’s last-minute decision, the South Korean plane crew and the passengers were forcefully taken to North Korea. Tae-in’s senior officer was furious that he’d let empathy cloud his judgment. Besides him, many people thought Tae-in betrayed the nation. They also took their anger out by spraying hateful messages on his house. But Tae-in stayed resilient through all these troubles, thanks to his wife, Moon-young’s (Im Se-mi) emotional support. A while later, 39 out of 50 abductees from the plane hijack were able to return to South Korea, while 11 remained detained in the North due to their ‘specialized skills.’
How did the plane get hijacked?
By 1971, Tae-in became the first officer for the airline. But his previous captains never let him make a solo landing, given his complicated history. Eventually, he joined Gyu-sik (Chae Soo-bin), the captain of the Air F27, on a plane going out from the Sokcho airport. Before taking off, Tae-in speaks with Gyu-sik about the scrutiny he faced for the 1969 incident. He realizes that there was no single correct way to approach that incident. If he had shot the engine precisely, the passengers may have died. So, it wouldn’t have ensured their safety either. But it didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Alas, he prepares for the further journey with Captain Gyu-sik.
The passengers rush to get into the airplane, excited about their journey. Among them is Yong-dae (Yeo Jin-goo), a terrorist who pretends to be just another civilian. Soon after the flight takes off, Yong-dae throws a bomb inside the plane, wreaking havoc. The plane loses balance, and Gyu-sik has a severe eye injury. So, Tae-in tries to regain the control. Moments later, Yong-dae walks inside the cockpit and threatens Tae-in to follow his orders if he doesn’t want any passenger to get killed. He orders Tae-in to redirect the plane and head for the ocean. Gyu-sik agrees to turn the plane around. Then, Tae-in goes to take care of the damage left by the bomb explosion.
The Escalating Hijack
Yong-dae’s bomb leaves a hole in the plane. So, Tae-in looks for a makeshift solution with the help of flight attendant Lee Ok-soon (Chae Soo-bin). In the cockpit, Gyu-sik asks Yong-dae whether his mission is politically or financially motivated. Yong-dae doesn’t provide any clear answer. He tells Gyu-sik to take the plane to Oeongchi from the Sokcho area. Gyu-sik tries to understand whether Yong-dae is from this town. But Yong-dae refrains from giving any clear answer. While that happens, Tae-in and Ok-soon remain busy healing the wounds of their passengers.
Yong-dae returns and stops them from providing any help. He takes Tae-in back to the cockpit and hears Gyu-sik giving information to their base. So, he gets furious and destroys Gyu-sik’s headset. He also makes Tae-in remove his headset and abstain from using the radio. If not, he will throw another bomb on the plane. Later, he reveals that his brother was taken to the North during the war, became an officer, and started living a reputable life. Yong-dae reveals that he is taking Air F27 to where his brother’s aircraft reportedly landed and was never found. Going there will earn him a huge sum and likely help him reunite with his brother.
Hijack 1971 (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
Does the plane land in Seoul as intended?
When Yong-dae is in the cockpit, an old passenger, who was a cop during the Korean War, decides to take him down once he returns. Another passenger offers help with this plan. But when it comes to action, the plan backfires on them and injures the old man. Tae-in intervenes and stops the situation from getting any worse. When Yong-dae is away, he tells Ok-soon to destroy all the passenger IDs so that North Koreans won’t know their identity in case they capture everyone on the plane. Through flashbacks, it is revealed that he was tortured by the local officers under the suspicion of being a communist sympathizer. While he was arrested, his old mother passed away.
Tae-in lies they crossed the border and entered North Korea. He hopes to trick Yong-dae so that they can safely land the passengers. Yong-dae soon realizes his trick and threatens to kill a teenager for revenge. He points a gun to the teenager’s head, brings him to the cockpit, and forces Tae-in to get back in the air just after he lands. Tae-in realizes that the plane won’t land as they intended. So, with the increased stakes, he requests Yong-dae to leave the passengers. In exchange, he agrees to sacrifice himself. Moments later, Yong-dae sees South Korean fighter planes around their plane. In a panicked state, he forces Tae-in not to follow any of his superiors’ orders. There’s another threat of the North Korean forces that surround them.
Do the passengers survive the plane hijack?
The Air F27 gets attacked from all sides. South Korean forces warn Tae-in of the repercussions of entering North Korea. Moments away from entering North Korea, Tae-in suddenly shifts his route, toppling the airline and making it impossible for Yong-Dae to take any action. Once they regain their balance, Tae-in returns to the passenger area to stop Yong-dae from causing further chaos. Tae-in gets in a fight with Yong-dae. Moments later, the flight security officer shoots Yong-dae in the chest. As Yong-dae starts bleeding, Tae-in offers help to get him treated if he agrees not to cause any more trouble. Just then, the security officer shoots Yong-dae again and kills him.
As Yong-dae drops the bomb, Tae-in realizes it is about to explode. So, he pushes it under a lid to protect the passengers. Despite heavy blood loss, Tae-in returns to his seat and ensures the plane lands on a beach. While the passengers get out one by one, he remains in his seat. Gyu-sik keeps talking with him, thinking he is alive. But around then, Tae-in takes his last breath. So, at the end of “Hijack 1971,” we see Tae-in make his first solo landing. Although he saves the passengers, he dies a tragic death. Thanks to him, all the passengers survive. However, the 11 abductees from the 1969 hijack incident have not returned to South Korea to this date.
Hijack 1971 (2024) True Story Explained:
“Hijack 1971” (2024) is based on a true incident of a plane hijack attempt from 1971. The domestic passenger flight meant to reach Seoul was hijacked by a man armed with hand grenades. The aircraft crash-landed on a deserted South Korean beach. The only two casualties of this incident were the terrorist and the heroic pilot who saved all the passengers’ lives. The film changes the names of the characters and presents a dramatized version of the same incident.
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