Air travel is often hailed as “the safest way to travel.” While that may be true in some respects, the idea of an emergency unfolding on the plane is enough to detract many would-be passengers. Emergency Declaration is a South Korean disaster film that details an emergency that develops on an international flight, and with the clock ticking, it’s only a matter of time before everything turns into chaos.  

Director and screenwriter Han Jae-rim has crafted a story that feels all too real and plausible, making the film even more intense. The movie concerns multiple characters whose lives are about to be intertwined when a man makes an online threat to attack an airplane. The plane in question is a commercial flight from Incheon, South Korea, to Honolulu, Hawaii. The man is later identified as Jin-seok (Im Si-wan), who appears to be an odd man in this airport’s array of many passengers. We learn that this man has come into possession of a biological chemical and plans to use this weapon onboard an airplane with the most passengers.  

He appears disorganized at the airport by questioning the ticket agent about how many passengers are on a particular flight. He’s a young man with devilish eyes and a sinister plan even though he hasn’t booked a flight yet. He’s just waiting for the right moment. When the ticket agent informs him that passenger information is confidential, he accosts her and leaves in a huff. We meet Jae-hyuk (Lee Byung-hun), traveling to Hawaii with his daughter Soo-min (Kim Bo-min).  

The father and daughter meet Jin-seok who appears peculiar and then threatening at a moment’s notice. Jae-hyuk takes special notice of this man, and after his daughter tells her father what this mystery man said to her in the bathroom, he makes sure to avoid this guy. Sadly, Jin-seok has now set his sights on them. 

Outside the airport, we meet a detective named In-ho (Song Kang-ho), who is notified that an individual has made an online video threatening to attack a plane. Most of his fellow officers assume this is just a prank and don’t bother to investigate but upon getting word that some kids in the neighborhood having identified the man in the video and know where he lives, In-ho interviews the kids along with his partner Yoon-chul (Hyun Bong-sik). 

They are led to an apartment when the would-be terrorist lives and discovers something grisly. I won’t reveal what that is, but I will clue you on what Jin-seok has in his possession. Once purchasing a ticket, he smuggles a dangerous chemical agent onto the plane and plans to expose everyone onboard. The result will be devastating, and after encountering the chemical agent, the chances of you becoming sick and possibly dying are almost guaranteed.  

Now begins the chase. The plane has already taken off, Jin-seok is onboard, and the chemical agent has been released. The police know who the suspect is, and while his motives are unclear at this stage, the fates of those passengers are all but sealed. The only thing working for them is time. Time to land, time to eliminate the threat, and time will only tell if everyone onboard will survive their ordeal.  

I don’t want to reveal everything, but what transpires is pure chaos on the plane, actions by the South Korean government to secure that plane, and the safety of all the crew and passengers, plus ensuring the virus from the chemical agent is suppressed from everyone wherever the plane lands. There are plenty of characters to sift through. While I won’t mention everyone, the movie identifies the major players and allows the audience to follow them once the action unfolds.  

Now, you may be thinking that the plot of this film sounds like a worst-case scenario to unfold on an airplane, considering that most of us have experienced the Covid pandemic. Sure, one could criticize the film for using the Covid pandemic as inspiration for this movie. Still, considering other movies that detail terrorist plots unfolding on an airplane, Emergency Declaration is clever to develop an interesting story that feels scarily real. Some may be offended by the very nature of this movie, but I found the film to be quite intriguing. 

I will mention two key examples. First, when the captain dies from exposure to the virus, the plane freefalls, causing a truly harrowing scene involving the passengers and attempting to save the plane from crashing into the ocean. It’s a brilliant action sequence that gives you goosebumps and reminds you of the dangers of flying. Secondly, when the detectives learn of the broader story involving this terrorist, they contact a possible accomplice. They give chase on foot, and we also enter a brief car chase shot from the backseat of the pursuing vehicle in one long take! It’s an immersive scene that can only be appreciated when you see it yourself. 

This is one of those disaster films that puts forth the effort to develop a complex yet well-organized story that becomes more layered as the film progresses. The film is admittingly long, but I somewhat suspect that writer/director Han Jae-rim did this to make the audience feel like those desperate passengers. It could be argued that the film is bloated and perhaps boring. Nevertheless, I was enthralled, and being that this is a disaster film that relies on story and character development over the overuse of CGI, I must give the movie credit for attempting something unique.  

Score 4 out of 5  

Emergency Declaration is a thrilling disaster film that brings an intriguing premise while allowing the audience to join in on the intense nature of its plot. This movie reminded me of Executive Decision meets Contagion. By throwing away the guns and rational demands of terrorists, we are given a villain who only wants to see the innocent suffer. The race is on to see if that plane can land safely and the passengers’ lives spared.  

This movie blends action, thrills, and sharp social commentary in the wake of the Covid pandemic. It’s not a movie that will be shown as the inflight movie but in terms of sheer thrills, Emergency Declaration is a well-thought-out disaster flick that works. It’s one of the better ones of this genre I’ve seen in quite some time. If you want excitement and action, then this movie will certainly have you holding your breath at times. Besides, all the action unfolds in a claustrophobic space while a horrific virus spreads! Fasten your seatbelts because this commercial flight is about to get bumpy.