Russia and the United States planned an anti-terrorism operation and sent special forces to capture General Ivan Reddick (Jurgen Prochnow), the dictator of the Kingdom of Kazakhstan who possessed nuclear weapons. At the celebration banquet a few weeks later, US President James Marshall (Harrison Ford), a former Vietnam War veteran, delivered a tough and brilliant speech against terrorists and dictatorships. The trip to Moscow ended successfully. The president's family and dignitaries returned to the United States on Air Force One, accompanied by Russian media staff led by Iger (Gary Oldman). The security personnel were careless and Iger's true identity was a terrorist loyal to General Reddick. After the plane took off, Iger and his companions hijacked the plane, kidnapped American dignitaries and the president's family, and only James escaped by chance. The terrorists demanded that Russia and the United States release General Reddick, and James, hiding in Air Force One, fought a desperate duel with the gangsters...