Hello, everybody

I have recently watched the Non-Stop movie with Liam Neeson, and found it very unrealistic.

So, I would like to ask a few questions.

What rights and powers do real air marshals have?

Do they have rights to search, detain, or interrogate anybody onboard?

Do they comply completely with captain's orders?

What would they actually do in reality, if some movie-like problem would occur and the suspect on board would require to be identified and found first, before he could just be neutralized and apprehended?

As I know, it never happened in reality, did it?

Would they search passengers on board if landing is impracticable and the threat is believed to be in one's carry-on or under one's clothes?

Thank you!

Best info I could find:
There are only TSA Federal Air Marshals. They are federal special agents. Their main jurisdiction is an airplane, yes. They do have a uniformed presence on light rail trains, shipping ports and in the cities where these forms of transportation exist. The patrols are in conjunction with local authorities called VIPR visible intertmodal prevention and response. Being federal agents, they have nationwide felony arrest authority and can carry weapons nationwide. State laws differ on recognizing misdemeanor arrest
authority.

BTW Liam Neeson movies are megalomaniacal and full of crap

Kitdun2000,
Welcome to Flyertalk. AS a new member, you may not be aware that cross-posting in multiple threads/fora is against the ToS.


You've posted this as a new thread in Practical Travel Safety Issues and also in an old thread in that forum.

This one will probably be closed by the moderators.

How realistic do you think the movie is, regarding Marshall's actions in this weird kind of situation?

What do you think would have been done in reality?
Would they really search and interrogate passengers right on board?
Or would anybody ask people to keep quiet, while threatening all of them with a gun?

That's why the movie viewing public likes them so much.

Based on the very few air incidents (in recent years), their main function is to fly in first class (b/c) and avail themselves of the (non-alcoholic) associated amenities at govt expense.

You left out the part about being on the in-flight and at-airport prowl for new sexual partners/encounters. One female FAM even got impregnated by the male celebrity she sat next to in first class on a flight.

If first class had more female FAMs, perhaps the howling about FAMs would be different.

What are they actually allowed to do while in flight?

Well let's see, recently they have handcuffed and detained people causing disturbances, and if the only training videos they have posted are any indication they practice often to shoot "evildoers" as needed.

There are various media accounts of them acting in flight to deal with disorderly pax including a few reports here on flyer talk.

And of course the upskirting and sex mentioned above!

Mile High Club or did it happen off-duty?

This might help. (Aside from the rabid opinion bits in the link, it's got the basic details)

Please, guys, I am serious
It is obvious that they can use force on somebody, who already caused some trouble, but what about a little investigation?
How realistic Neeson character's actions are, and are they legally allowed to do something of that sort?

As with FAM history of on-the-ground retention of sexual services from prostitutes, they probably more usually start by using hotel rooms -- often reimbursed by the government -- or a car than their own residential addresses. In-flight use of the bathroom or a blanket in first class is too conspicuous for that conspicuous lot.

That was just a single case
Of course they are people too
Please, answer!
Does anybody know?

Sure, but when it's done on Uncle Sam's dime and/or time, the propriety of some actions may come into question.

Fictional movies embellish, exaggerate and more generally take creative license. You have to specify what exact actions shown are of concern to you.

They have done in-flight searches before, but they generally aren't to break cover except under exceptional circumstances -- but these characters don't all stick to that in-flight either and can be rather explicit or conspicuous in-flight too.

Given they are LEOs and federal LEOs at that, they have federal LEO authorization and limitations.

They aren't allowed to drink alcohol on the government's dime and not in-flight.