“Con Air” is partially based on a true story. The concept for the movie was inspired by the real-life Con Air program, which was operated by the United States Marshals Service. The program was responsible for transporting prisoners from one location to another, typically from a local jail to a federal prison or vice versa.
To gather firsthand information about the Con Air program, the screenwriter, Scott Rosenberg, visited the program’s base in Oklahoma City. During his three-day visit, he observed the incredible operation and got an eyewitness perspective of how prisoners were transported.
The Con Air program, which operated in the late 20th century, transported approximately 150,000 prisoners every year. It involved the use of specially modified aircraft to transport high-risk prisoners, many of whom were dangerous criminals or individuals involved in major criminal cases.
The movie “Con Air” takes inspiration from this real-life program and portrays a fictional story of a group of dangerous prisoners who hijack a prison transport plane. While the events depicted in the movie are fictionalized for dramatic effect, the core concept of transporting prisoners on aircraft is based on the real Con Air program.
It is important to note that the movie takes significant creative liberties and exaggerations for entertainment purposes. The intense action and thrilling sequences depicted in the movie are not meant to accurately represent the day-to-day operations of the Con Air program.
While “Con Air” is based on the real-life Con Air program, it is a fictionalized account that takes creative liberties for the purpose of entertainment. The movie provides a thrilling and action-packed story, but it should not be considered a completely accurate representation of the actual Con Air program.