Corrected entry: During the final landing approach to Dulles, Virginia and subsequently go around, the aircraft was suddenly nearby to Frederick, Maryland. Why would the protagonist choose to land at FDK with a 5,000-foot runway instead of circling around again to Dulles with a 10,000-foot runway. Certainly the flight time of a circling, second approach to Dulles would be less than that to fly to FDK.
rstill
5th Sep 2004
Correction: Dr. David Grant (Kurt Russell) explains very clearly why he can't circle around for another attempt at the same runway: In not so many words he says he is not an experienced pilot and knows almost nothing about flying planes, especially jumbo jets, and is unable to circle around for another attempt. The best he can manage is to turn the plane at little to line the plane up at another runway.
rstill