Hijack 1971 () is a 2024 South Korean action thriller film written by Kim Kyeong-chan and directed by Kim Seong-han, starring Ha Jung-woo, Yeo Jin-goo, Sung Dong-il and Chae Soo-bin. The film is based on the hijack attempt of a Korean Air F27 airliner in 1971. It was released theatrically on June 21, 2024.
In December 1969, South Korean fighter pilot Tae-in intercepts an airliner hijacked by a North Korean agent. He refuses to fire on the plane before it reaches North Korean airspace, fearing for the passengers' safety and recognizing the pilot to be his friend and former mentor Young-sook. The plane reaches North Korea and Tae-in is kicked out of the air force for disobeying orders. Later, 39 of the plane's 46 passengers are repatriated back to South Korea but the other seven passengers and the plane's four crew, including Young-sook, end up remaining in North Korea indefinitely. Tae-in later finds a job as a pilot with Korean Air.
In January 1971, Tae-in and captain Gyu-Sik command a Fokker F27 flight from Sokcho Airport to Gimpo International Airport in Seoul. After take off, passenger Yong-dae detonates two improvised explosive devices, one of which blows a hole in the cabin floor, injuring several passengers and a sky marshal, and the other destroys the lock on the cockpit door, partially blinding Gyu-Sik and forcing Tae-in to take over. Yong-dae takes control of the cockpit and demands the pilots take the plane to North Korea, threatening them with a knife and another improvised explosive device.
During turbulence, several passengers attempt to attack Yong-dae but he manages to get hold of the air marshal's gun. Tae-in tries to land at a remote airstrip but Yong-dae threatens to blow up the plane; in retaliation Yong-dae shoots Tae-in in the leg. Yong-dae explains that he and his family were ostracized for having a North Korean brother and believes that he would be treated better there.
The plane is intercepted by South Korean fighter jets, led by Tae-in's former comrade Dong-cheol, who warns Tae-in that North Korean fighters are also approaching to intercept. Tae-in outmanoeuvres the fighters' attempts to shoot his engines and Yong-dae loses his gun in the chaos. Faced with worsening odds, Tae-in and Gyu-Sik decide to crash land the plane on a beach; Yong-dae attempts to wrest control back but Tae-in fights him before Yong-dae is shot and killed by the sky marshal. When Yong-dae's remaining explosive device detonates after he dies, Tae-in uses his body to shield the passengers from the blast, and is mortally wounded. Gyu-Sik successfully lands the plane on the beach with the help from Ok-soon, a flight attendant and the dying Tae-in. All the passengers are evacuated safely as Tae-in dies of his wounds while still sitting in the cockpit.