Air Collision

Dr. Antonia Pierce is a scientist who stumbles onto scattered debris and quickly grasps the gravity of the unfolding disaster. She becomes a critical liaison, translating chaotic telemetry into actionable warnings for air traffic control. Her calm, methodical approach under pressure drives early grounding decisions and informs rescue efforts. She embodies a rational counterweight to the rogue automation.

Bob Abbot is a Cleveland FAA air traffic controller who sees through the noise of conflicting directives. He pushes to ground traffic despite resistance from higher authorities. His stubborn, principled leadership becomes a crucial counterweight to malfunctioning systems. Abbot embodies the human element needed to avert disaster when machines misfire.

Milani Phillips is the President's daughter who takes an improbable role from inside to override the rogue system. She demonstrates resourcefulness, technical curiosity, and nerve as she navigates a dangerous onboard environment. Her actions reflect courage and loyalty to family while contributing to a potential rescue behind enemy lines. Milani’s involvement highlights how personal courage intersects with national crisis.

President Phillips commands from the stricken aircraft, maintaining composure as the crisis escalates. He makes critical choices to override flawed automation in concert with others, steering the mission toward safety. His leadership under existential threat becomes a unifying thread for ground and air teams. The final Detroit landing stands as a testament to decisive presidential action.

Captain Roscoe Simms is the experienced Air Force One pilot who navigates through errant commands. He faces the dual pressure of protecting passengers and executing a safe landing as systems falter. The crew's ordeal underscores the human factor in aircraft in crisis. Simms’ role highlights the limits of automation when human judgment remains essential.