Hijackers seize the plane carrying the president of the United States and his family, but he (an ex-soldier) works from hiding to defeat them. Harrison Ford is the president and he's been skyjacked by terrorists who threaten the lives of his wife and daughter unless he meets their demands, in "Air Force One". President James Marshall (Ford) is traveling with his family and entourage back from a conference on terrorism when terrorists take charge of air force one. At first the president eludes the skyjackers, but the group's violent leader, Gary Oldman, holds the first lady (Wendy Crewson) and 12-year-old first daughter (Liesel Matthews) as hostages to leverage demands of freedom for one of his colleagues in a Russian prison. A former medal of honor winner, President Marshall fights back with his fists and wits aboard the cramped airliner, while the vice president (Glenn Close) struggles to negotiate from the White House with the terrorists and the Russian government.