MovieChat Forums > Die Hard (1988) Discussion > How was John able to bring his handgun o...

How was John able to bring his handgun on a commercial flight to Los Angeles?

posted 5 years ago by TMC-4 (19579)
15 replies | jump to latest

I know that this was made long before 9/11 and the filmmakers tried to "hand-wave it" by saying that John could get away with it since he's a police officer, but still...

https://www.quora.com/Was-John-McClane-allowed-to-carry-a-firearm-on-a-commercial-flight-in-the-movie-Die-Hard

https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1syf4z/at_the_beginning_of_die_hard_john_mcclane_carries/

https://www.defensivecarry.com/forum/concealed-carry-issues-discussions/60527-carry-airplane.html

http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Die_Hard

[–] pjpurple@verizon.net (5552) 5 years ago

I used to be a flight attendant back in the eighties and yes, police could bring their service revolver on board. They had a lot of paperwork to fill out, but they could do it. One time I had a cop and an FBI agent who were both armed. In cases like that, we were required to point them out to each other. Quietly of course, but you had to tell each person who was armed who else was armed and where they were seated.

[–] Chloe (127) 5 years ago

Okay, to take this further- if a handgun was fired on a commercial flight would the bullet be likely to penetrate the hull? I'd imagine the chances of them ever actually being used by a police officer or FBI is massively slim for this reason.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I'm no expert in planes or guns , but my money is on "yes" , as planes are made of lightweight aluminium, unlike battle tanks.

[–] RogueDemonHunter (2656) 5 years ago

It would indeed but it wouldn't result in some explosive, catastrophic failure like what you see in films.

[–] Chloe (127) 5 years ago

Ah okay. Thanks guys!

[–] RogueDemonHunter (2656) 5 years ago

Supposedly armed air marshals used to have their guns loaded with Glaser Safety Slugs. This type of bullet is a hollow point filled with compressed lead birdshot capped off with a polymer ball. They're basically frangible rounds that will fracture upon hitting the target and dump all of their energy into the target rather than penetrating or having considerable chunks ricochet.

I think nowadays they just have regular hollow points or even FMJs. Penetrating windows/walls is not really a concern. It's when bullets start going through the floor is when you need to worry as there's all sorts of important stuff down there.

[–] ak47wong (485) 4 years ago

You mean it wouldn't result in a human-sized hole suddenly appearing in the fuselage and everyone getting sucked out through it? Hollywood has lied to me.

[–] davodikum (6011) 4 years ago

Right?!!!!

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Awesome info. And this is why I come to moviechat.org, not to see everybody in the superhero and Star Wars movie pages accuse each other of being SJWs and incels.

[–] April-151-CT (10210) 5 years ago

You answered your own question.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7522) 5 years ago

I didn't feel like reading those articles, and I know the filmmakers had him bring his gun so he could use it in defense against the terrorists, but something nobody in this topic has mentioned is that I'm pretty sure unless he was a cop going to L.A on police business, they wouldn't let him bring his gun in real life. And frankly I'm pretty sure they'd make him put it in his suitcase. Not on his person.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

It's a fictional universe where his gun was allowed. FTFY!

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7522) 5 years ago

I am fine with it in the movie. I was just saying that because the TC brought it up.

[–] kenburke (2310) 4 years ago

That was the only blooper. McCain's being a police officer could easily (and more realistically) be revealed by his displaying his shield.

[–] PaladinNJ (20769) 4 years ago

A friend of mine is a federal marshal and he is permitted to carry his weapon on board with him. I know he never brings it loaded but I've never asked if that is required or just his preference.