Factual error: Jodie Foster states that as a propulsion engineer, she knows the internal structure of the plane by heart and has worked extensively on it. The problem with that is that propulsion engineers work on the jet engines - which are all on the outside of the plane, on the wings. Sure, a propulsion engineer might have some basic knowledge of the plane's interior design and engineering, but the in-depth knowledge she claims comes from her job simply isn't right - that's the job of avionics engineers.
Factual error: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are shown checking baggage in the final scenes at the same time that FBI agents are making arrests. The flight landed in Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. According to the Criminal Code of Canada, any crime committed during an international flight that ends on Canadian soil is deemed to have been committed in Canada. That being the case, the RCMP as the national police force has full jurisdiction. There is no way the FBI would be involved at that point.
Factual error: At the end of the movie, when they land in Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, the firetrucks that rush to the scene are the wrong color. The firefighters at the Goose Bay airport drive yellow fire trucks, not red ones.
Factual error: At the end of the movie when Kyle and her daughter are being driven away we see a shot of the licence plate. Although it is marked "Newfoundland and Labrador" the numbers are before the letters, the reverse of what it is in the province.
Factual error: Carson says that the explosives were put inside the casket because caskets aren't X-rayed. Even though often times cargo such as the casket are sent by "known shippers", and known shippers check screen the casket, they are still X-rayed by airport security. There are no exceptions to X-raying cargo, even if it was already deemed secure.
Factual error: When Jodie triggers the explosives and the plane collapses, the windshield is shown shattering and exploding. That is multilayer safety glass, it would not shatter in that manner.
Factual error: Near the end when the plane lands, we see the front wheels touch down first instead of the rear wheels. A pilot would never land like that unless it was absolutely unavoidable, as it would more than likely result in a major incident.
Factual error: Human remains, while sealed in a casket, are always transported in a protective box. This box, usually cardboard, has "human remains" placards all over it.
Answer: It was never revealed how they lured or forced him up to the roof.
raywest ★