Heads of State (2025) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Air Force One was shot down by terrorists working for Viktor Gradov, the Russian arms dealer who had already stolen a link to the ECHELON surveillance program. The attack was a coordinated strike to eliminate both the British Prime Minister and US President, creating chaos that would destabilize NATO and allow Gradov to profit from the ensuing international crisis. The plane was struck mid-air while en route to the NATO summit in Trieste.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in Spain, Gradov had already demonstrated his ability to outmaneuver elite intelligence agencies by wiping out Bisset's team and stealing sensitive technology.

• air force one
• attack
• terrorism
• viktor gradov
• nato summit

Vice President Elizabeth Kirk is the true traitor, not Bradshaw as initially suspected. Kirk manipulated the entire conspiracy to cover her own involvement with Gradov. She deliberately framed Bradshaw as a false lead to redirect suspicion away from herself while her assassins continued working for Gradov.

Foreshadowing: The team finds chat logs in Zadar implicating Bradshaw, but this turns out to be a setup, Kirk had engineered the evidence to protect herself.

• elizabeth kirk
• traitor
• betrayer
• vice president
• bradshaw

Sam Clarke does not actually die in the Zadar explosion. He survives the blast and makes a dramatic return to Trieste, arriving in a fire truck to rescue Derringer and Bisset during the final confrontation. His survival was kept hidden to allow him to surprise Kirk's assassins at the NATO summit.

Foreshadowing: The explosion occurs during their escape from Hammond's office, but no body is ever shown, leaving room for his return.

• sam clarke
• explosion
• survival
• zadar
• fire truck

ECHELON is a clandestine global surveillance program used by the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand). In the film, Gradov steals a link to ECHELON during the La Tomatina attack in Spain, giving him access to sensitive intercepted communications from multiple governments.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene in Buñol establishes Gradov's primary objective: obtaining the ECHELON link, which he successfully achieves by killing Bisset's team.

• echelon
• surveillance
• five eyes
• espionage
• spy program

Gradov targeted the NATO summit to create international chaos and profit from the resulting instability. By eliminating the British Prime Minister and US President while simultaneously leaking security files through hacker Hammond, he aimed to collapse NATO unity and create opportunities for his arms dealing operations across Europe.

Foreshadowing: The conspiracy begins with Gradov's attack in Spain, establishing him as a threat with global ambitions.

• viktor gradov
• nato summit
• attack
• conspiracy
• trieste

Yes, Marty Comer survives being shot by Gradov's assassins in Warsaw. In the post-credits scene, it is revealed he survived because the bullet struck a metal plate in his body. He is later visited by Noelle Bisset, hinting at ongoing espionage operations.

Foreshadowing: Comer is shot during the safe house attack in Warsaw but his death is not confirmed on screen.

• marty comer
• survival
• post-credits
• shot
• metal plate

After parachuting into Belarus following the Air Force One attack, Clarke and Derringer were presumed dead by the world. This worked to their advantage initially, allowing them to move secretly while Gradov and Kirk believed them eliminated. The public declaration of their deaths also forced NATO into a vulnerable position, making the summit easier to compromise.

Foreshadowing: The plane crash in Belarus leaves them stranded with no identification or resources.

• clarke
• derringer
• dead
• presumed dead
• belarus

Sam Clarke and Noelle Bisset previously had a romantic relationship before Clarke became Prime Minister. This past connection is discovered by Derringer during their investigation, creating tension between the allies. Bisset survives the Spain attack and eventually reunites with Clarke to help stop Gradov.

Foreshadowing: Derringer uncovers this relationship when he learns about Clarke's past during their time in Poland.

• sam clarke
• noelle bisset
• relationship
• romance
• past

Hammond, the hacker working for Gradov, turns against his employer because he is dying from his wounds and has grown tired of taking orders. He kills one of Gradov's assassins to protect the protagonists and directs them to his former office in Zadar to find evidence of the real traitor. His betrayal of Gradov stems from both desperation and moral conflict.

Foreshadowing: Hammond's hesitation and fatigue are visible during the train ambush, foreshadowing his eventual turn.

• hammond
• hacker
• betrays gradov
• turns
• dies

Viktor Gradov is killed during the final confrontation at the NATO summit in Trieste. As he attempts to escape by helicopter, Clarke and Derringer throw a statue at the aircraft, causing it to crash. Gradov dies in the crash, ending the threat from the Russian arms dealer.

Foreshadowing: The climax brings the confrontation that has been building since the opening attack in Spain.

• viktor gradov
• death
• helicopter
• crash
• statue

Vice President Elizabeth Kirk orchestrated the conspiracy with Gradov to seize power and advance her own political ambitions. By eliminating the President and creating international chaos, she positioned herself to benefit from the power vacuum. Her involvement with Gradov provided the resources and cover needed to execute the plan while remaining undetected.

Foreshadowing: Kirk's manipulation becomes clear only in the final act when her true role is revealed.

• elizabeth kirk
• vice president
• motive
• conspiracy
• power