MovieChat Forums > Non-Stop (2014) Discussion > Only US air marshals on a British flight...

Only US air marshals on a British flight? Is that realistic?

posted 11 years ago by eolloe
14 replies | jump to latest

The airline is named British Aqualantic, I think, if I recall correctly, which suggests it is a British-owned and operated company; and the pilots and at least one flight attendant seemed to have British accents.

Yet both of the air marshals aboard were Americans, one of whom showed his US-issued badge.

Was that a goof?
Why would a British company not staff its trans-atlantic flight bound for the UK with at least one of its own air marshals. Or does the UK not have air marshals?

[–] eolloe 11 years ago

I can't be the only one who noticed this ...

[–] simonkevnorris 11 years ago

I can only presume that because the flight started in the USA that was the reason behind the USA Air Marshalls.

Yes, I realize that the plane was supposed to be a UK Airline.

[–] mwleonard-1 11 years ago

It's just a very dumb movie.

[–] mitchegk 11 years ago

Liam Neeson is Irish and played the role Irish, What are you talking about? am i missing something

[–] Redart27 10 years ago

His badge said "US FEDERAL AIR MARSHALL". Did you miss that? It was explained in the film that he was a retired NYC cop who emigrated to the US from Northern Ireland many years ago. Maybe his wife was American and got him citizenship.... they didn't explain it, but that is totally plausible reason. US naturlized citizens can get federal jobs, provided they pass all the background checks and vetting processes. Look at former Secretary of State, German born Henry Kissinger.

The US and UK (and other countries) have international agreements in place which give the US air marshalls permission to take firearms on board planes and into their countries.
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[–] JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies 10 years ago

Why would whether it's realistic have any relevance? This wasn't a documentary. It's not journalism.

http://rateyourmusic.com/~JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies

[–] Neuronhead 10 years ago

Good question. Maybe any flights in or out of the US can have a US air marshal on them. Need input from someone from the industry.

I choose to believe what I was programmed to believe

[–] eolloe 10 years ago

I don't see a problem with there being some US air marshals aboard. I'm just wondering why there were no British air marshals aboard as well.

[–] QcLoser 10 years ago

No way US airport security would allow a "foreign " marshall to carry a gun through checkpoint

[–] eolloe 10 years ago

You're joking, right?
I thought the US actually ordered foreign airlines to staff their flights with air marshals a few years back.

(Whether a foreign air marshal would be allowed to carry a gun through security is separate issue. If absolutely necessary, they could stow their firearms on the plane between flights. But I'm sure there must be allowances for properly authorized non-US nationals to carry declared firearms through security checkpoints.)

[–] fluffybunnyrainbow 10 years ago

Or does the UK not have air marshals?

Kind of. SO18 officers are used on random flights from and within the UK, but not all.

[–] raf-33 10 years ago

All flights from or to the US get an Air Marshall, hired by and paid for by the USA. I don't think any other nation uses them because we don't have a tendency to poke the giant hornet's nest that is the religion of Islam at every opportunity.

I think you don't get allowed to use a US-bound route if you don't agree to the FAA's demands for Air Marshall's on your operator.

Ya Kirk-loving Spocksucker!

[–] Ambak 9 years ago

The whole scenario is ludicrous. US Federal Air Marshalls only travel on US airliners. US law enforcement officers have no jurisdiction outside US territory (which would include US registered aircraft in international airspace). A US air marshall carrying a gun on a British flight would not only have no jurisdiction, he would be breaking British law. The idea that every flight in and out of the US carries an air marshall is absurd, there would have to be thousands of them.

[–] marlarkey 9 years ago

It was announced in ~2003 that air marshalls MAY be deployed on SOME British airline flights to the US....

It has never been acknowledged whether that was ever implemented. If it was they would be BRITISH air marshalls.

US Air Marshalls on British airlines would be illegal without the consent of the British government and that has never been publicly announced.