MovieChat Forums > Flightplan (2005) Discussion > Why did they take the girl?

Why did they take the girl?

posted 12 years ago by AccidntlTourist
12 replies | jump to latest

Spoilers Follow

So, the two plan to use the threat of a bomb to extort millions of dollars.

I get the smuggling of the bomb via a dead guy.

And, I can see how presenting the threat to the pilot might have been complicated, but couldn't the bad guy come up with any number of simpler ways to announce the presence of a bomber (especially using his official capacity), or better yet, why not just find a mysterious message left on the plane by a maintenance guy (no longer on the plane).

Well, let's not think of all the ways to blow up a plane!
But, I don't understand -- how did taking the girl fit into their plan?

[–] soulsk8ter225 12 years ago

Maybe the ability for her to be able to "search around the plane" was an excuse for her to be able to "remove the C4 explosives from the coffin," if that makes sense. In other words, she needed access to move around to make it believable that she was actually furthering her plan of blowing up the plane.

** Rest in peace, Timothy Volkert (1988 - 2003) **

[–] AccidntlTourist 12 years ago

Interesting premise sk8ter.

Okay, ... I think I'm finally - maybe - getting it.
They killed her husband because they knew that would give them a coffin to hide explosives. And, they hid her daughter because they knew that would result in her acting crazy and going all over the plane - including restricted areas.

So we have a nut-case woman who's husband died under questionable circumstances who now is searching for a daughter who no one remembers seeing - in other words - she is suspect number one in the "mad bomber" category. So the captain and crew either think she is "crazy" and creating a panic; that she is sabotaging and crashing the plane - or "crazy like a fox" - planting the bomb to extort money. In either event - she has been set up to be the bomber.

THANKS - I think that actually makes sense to me.

But, it sounds like a lot of the "plan" relied on a plane full of people not seeing her daughter - or seeing them kidnapping her daughter. Seems like a pretty weak link in such an involved and critical plan (one witness would have destroyed the whole thing?), but that's the movies; that's what "suspension of disbelief" is for.

[–] soulsk8ter225 12 years ago

Makes sense to me!

You're right about seeing them kidnap her daughter. Tough stuff. If that doesn't work, nothing there works!

** Rest in peace, Timothy Volkert (1988 - 2003) **

[–] keyvenx 11 years ago

Seems like a pretty weak link in such an involved and critical plan (one witness would have destroyed the whole thing?), but that's the movies; that's what "suspension of disbelief" is for.

Why do people keep resorting to this word like it's an automatic "get-out-of-jail-free" card?

Yes, we get it - you don't care if you watch babbling clowns making funny faces for 2 hours - but some of us want a little more than mindless nonsensical drivel.

I believe a deep plot is far more interesting than one which barely makes sense. People like "ifembot" can't comprehend such a concept, which is probably why crap like Flightplan exists.

So why should we care if someone is a great actor? Or the special effects is realistic? Or a story is unique and deep? We just employ "suspension of disbelief" for any massive plot-holes or crap we come across.

[–] szr8 11 years ago

Except that the captain wouldn't allow her to go down into the hold during the main search. She only went down after the restroom/diversion scene.

[–] GuyOnTheLeft 9 years ago

I don't see why the explosives would even need to be removed. It's an unnecessary complication.

--------
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[–] soulsk8ter225 9 years ago

If coffins are like refrigerators, maybe they would keep the bombs a bit too tightly wound inside the coffin to make any sort of reasonable impact if there was an explosion.

** Rest in peace, Timothy Volkert (1988 - 2003) **

[–] pennilayne 8 years ago

but then how would they get the money exactly?

[–] elijahyael_08 9 years ago

Why did they take the girl?

FAQ says:
Because the casket was sealed with a security lock to which only Kyle had the combination, they kidnapped Julia and made Kyle look like a crazy lady so that, at some point, she would go back into the hold to open her husband's casket while searching for her daughter. They would then retrieve the detonator, plant the explosives, get Kyle arrested by the FBI, and blow up the airplane with Julia in it, so that there was no evidence that Julia ever was on the flight.

Sir, I appreciate the struggle you have been through, and I am very sorry to have caused you pain.

[–] AccidntlTourist 9 years ago

Thanks elijahyael.

It's been over 2 years since posting my question; maybe that FAQ entry came after - or I didn't think to look (I'm getting better at checking the FAQs).

I like complex plots; wish I could have put the puzzle together without help, but I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who was stumped.

* * * * * * * *

[–] elijahyael_08 9 years ago

I only got to watch the movie recently. I don't usually check on the FAQs but just so happened to do so this time. Then I came across your question. Just thought i might be of a little help, if not to you ('cause yes, i noticed my answer would come quite late...), maybe to some who were wondering about the same thing. Anyway... sorry if my English sucks!  Have a nice day! 

Sir, I appreciate the struggle you have been through, and I am very sorry to have caused you pain.

[–] Scooby52 9 years ago

It's hard to solve a puzzle when the answer is so ridiculous.

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