Sonic Impact

Plot

Jeremy Barrett (Michael Harris), a deranged criminal, is caught by FBI agent Nick Halton (James Russo) and transported on a Columbia Airlines Boeing 747-100 to New York along with some other criminals. Through a stroke of luck, he is able to subdue the escorting Federal agents, led by Agent Taja (Ice-T); free the other criminals; and take over the 747. After killing one of the passengers and the pilot (J. Kenneth Campbell), Barrett demands a ransom and a helicopter at San Diego, where the 747 is being diverted.

When a small explosion is caused by a gun shot striking an oxygen tank, a massive hole is opened in the cockpit, and with the aircraft badly damaged, Barrett threatens to crash the 747 into a populated area unless his demands are met. Halton then decides to get on the 747 while in flight to do something. He is lowered into the cockpit, but things do not go as planned. Unless the agent can do something, the military will be forced to shoot the aircraft down to minimize the toll.

Production

The working title of the project was "Sonic Blast". Stock aerial scenes of the Boeing 747 were taken from Airport 1975 (1975). Airport 1975 had used a Boeing 747-123 freighter (cargo variant) s/n 20390 (registration N9675), leased from American Airlines, but painted in the fictional Columbia Airlines livery that was used in both films.

Reception

At the 2000 WorldFest Houston, Sonic Impact won the Silver Award for Best Independent Theatrical Feature Films - Action/Adventure category.