Plot hole: While it is essential to the story, there is a problem with apes in the space ship. While it is the one that took Taylor to the future, there is no way the chimps could have salvaged the ship from the water (plus there wasn't enough time for such a salvage operation. Kira and Cornelius were living in the ape city we see in "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" never mentioning to Brent that they found a spaceship he could travel back with). They didn't have the technology for such an operation, no diving suits, and chimps are scared of water. Also, the water would have destroyed the power systems of the ship when it sank. (00:00:25)
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
1 plot hole
Directed by: Don Taylor
Starring: Roddy McDowall, Bradford Dillman, Kim Hunter, Natalie Trundy
Revealing mistake: Throughout the film, when the camera goes close to Zira, you can see the line where her wig is glued on.
Trivia: This is the only film in the original "Planet of the Apes" film series that takes place in contemporary times as opposed to some point in the future.