Deathmatch in the Air: Differences in the movie compared to the 1978 hijacking

Currently holding the throne at the Vietnamese box office, "Air Deathmatch" by director Ham Tran quickly became the center of attention thanks to being inspired by a real event: the hijacking that occurred at Da Nang airport in 1978.

However, to suit the cinematic language, the crew made many significant adjustments, creating a difference that is both dramatic and creative.

The character Binh – a necessary fiction for the script

In the real incident in 1978, there was only one guard on the plane. But in "Fight to the Death in the Sky", in addition to the guard character Son (played by Ma Ran Do), the director also created the character Binh (Thanh Son). Binh was originally a guard but hid his identity to visit his wife who was about to give birth. When the hijacker appeared, he did not hesitate to rush into danger, coordinating with Son and the crew to protect the passengers.

Although a fictional character, Binh's image reminds us of Nguyen Dac Thoai - a brave airline employee who confronted four hijackers in another case in 1979. Mr. Thoai himself was also present at the film's press conference and emotionally admitted that the character Binh had many similarities to his life-and-death experiences in the past.

Concealed Weapons – Subtle Differences

Right from the beginning of the film, the audience noticed the item the final boss used to store grenades. This image both aroused curiosity and created drama when going through the X-ray machine. By the end of the film, that detail was explained, bringing about an unexpected "twist".

In the real incident, the hijackers hid the grenade in a plaster statue , on which was attached the inscription: "Please handle gently, it breaks easily - Quang Nam - Da Nang Education Department respectfully presents to the Ho Chi Minh City Education Department" . This detail was changed in the film to better suit the storyline and cinematic feel.

Absence of push button action

One of the highlights of the real-life 1978 incident was the quick thinking of flight attendant Thu Cuc . When she was restrained, she managed to press a secret signal button, helping the cockpit to be aware of the situation and keep the plane safe until landing.

In the film version, the two flight attendants played by Kaity Nguyen and Tram Anh did not have the opportunity to act similarly. They were controlled and tortured throughout, but the captain and co-pilot still proactively assessed the situation and determined to stay in the cockpit until the end.

The end of the hijackers – creativity from the real

After 52 breathless minutes, "Fight to the Death in the Sky" ended with the death of the entire group of hijackers. Suu (Bao Dinh) collapsed from blood loss, the brothers Ti - Dan (Ray Nguyen, Vo Dien Gia Huy) were killed, Long (Thai Hoa) detonated a grenade to kill himself. The mastermind was defeated by Binh in a direct confrontation.

Meanwhile, the 1978 incident saw four hijackers killed by grenade explosions and jumping from the plane at dangerous altitudes. The ringleader, An, was later arrested and sentenced to death.

Torture details and cinematic elements

One obvious difference between the film and the real thing is the way the brutality of the hijackers is portrayed. In "Fight to the Death", two flight attendants are brutally tortured: from breaking their arms to prying off their toenails, the bloody scenes make viewers shudder. However, this is an artistic intention to increase the drama and portray the resilient spirit of the characters.

In real life, flight attendants Thu Cuc and Kim Thanh were even seriously injured. Kim Thanh was shot four times but still resolutely kept the cockpit door closed, not letting the plane fall into the hands of the hijackers.

Good movie – real life story still moves

Despite many embellished details, "Fight to the Death in the Sky" still succeeds in arousing interest in a case that once shocked public opinion in the late 1970s. By blending historical facts and cinematic creativity, director Ham Tran brings the audience an experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking about courage and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Deathmatch in the air: The villain must "act on his own", revealing a homosexual love story An Thảo16:19:46 20/09/2025The actor born in 1996 revealed a very surprising truth. To have realistic footage, this is the project that he has accepted the most injuries to date.