Turbulence

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Theatrical poster for Turbulence

Movie (1997)
French title : Turbulences à 30000 pieds

Starring:
Ray Liotta (Ryan Weaver)
Lauren Holly (Teri Halloran)
Catherine Hicks (Maggie)
Hector Elizondo (Lt. Aldo Hines)

Turbulence is a 1997 action thriller film directed by Robert Butler. It stars Ray Liotta and Lauren Holly and was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. After Ryan Weaver is arrested for a murder that he says he did not commit, he must be transported to Los Angeles. He and another prisoner are escorted by four air marshals on a Boeing 747 on a commercial flight. Even though it is Christmas Eve, the plane is nearly empty, with only eight people on board. During the flight, Stubbs, the other prisoner being escorted, breaks free and begins a shootout with the marshals. Amidst the chaos, both the pilot and co-pilot are killed. Weaver frees himself and attempts to save the last remaining marshal, but fails when both Stubbs and the marshal are shot dead. Because of the death of the pilots, Halloran, a stewardess, makes her way into the cockpit and learns she is the only one left capable of keeping the plane from crashing. To make matters worse, the plane is heading for a Category 6 storm. Weaver's behavior becomes increasingly erratic. Being the only hope for the plane's survival, Halloran must be instructed by radio how to land.

Boeing 747-238B

Boeing 747-238B of Towair Air modified as fictional Trans-Con Airlines, with resembling JAL-Japan Air Lines colours scheme. Noted as a 200 series although there are a few inconsistencies in the movie to suggest that they used a different aircraft for filming certain scenes. For instance, the plane shown being refueled is a 747-400, yet the flight engineer manuals in the cockpit indicate a 747-200, as do shots and dialogue during the remainder of the movie.
History of the aircraft:
Registration N614FF, c/n 20534/195. First flight in July 1972. Delivered new to Qantas in August 1972, registered VH-EBE. Bought by Boeing in June 1985, registered N609PE. Leased to PEOPLExpress Airlines in May 1986, named 609. Transferred to Continental Airlines after merge in February 1987, named 024, re-registered in May 1991 as N10024. Sold to Whirlpool Financial in May 1993. Leased to Tower Air in July 1994, named 614. Re-registered N614FF in October 1994. Used for film Turbulence between spring 1996 to Autumn 1996 painted as fictional Trans-Con Airlines. Leased to Continental Micronesia in February 1997. Bought by Continental Airlines in May 1997, re-registered N14024, still operated by Continental Micronesia. Stored at Mojave (KMHV/MHV) in March 1999. Destroyed in Discovery Channel Bomb Proof Plane program in June 2003.