Flight Risk Ending Explained

Mel Gibson's 2025 thriller Flight Risk ends with a significant plot surprise and a memorable character death. Gibson is back to helm his first motion picture since Hacksaw Ridge, which won an Oscar in 2013. With a 22% Rotten Tomatoes rating, Flight Risk isn't likely to win any Oscars, but it does have a number of twists and turns that make for some exciting scenes. In addition to four-time Emmy nominee Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) and That '70s Show alumnus Topher Grace, the cast of Flight Risk is remarkable and includes two-time Oscar contender Mark Wahlberg and his half-shaved head.

Hitman-pilot Daryl (Wahlberg) breaks his thumb to break out of his restraints at the end of Flight Risk. He almost strangles U.S. Air Marshal Maddie to death and stabs Winston (Grace), a mob accountant and informant, twice. Maddie restrains him after shooting him with a flare gun. As Winston is bleeding out and Maddie is ready to land the jet, Daryl breaks loose once more. Maddie shoots Daryl three times, striking his legs with her rifle. After landing the aircraft on an Anchorage runway, she reveals that Colebridge, the U.S. Marshals' Director, was working for crime lord Moretti.

How Maddie Learned About Flight Risk's Director Colebridge Mole Twist

Both Maddie and Winston are baffled by Daryl's extensive knowledge of their personal histories and details. Maddie concludes that the leak must have originated from within because only she and a few U.S. Marshal superiors were aware that she was transferring Winston to stand trial. By way of elimination, she first believes that her coworker Van Sant, who introduces her to pilot Hasan, is the mole.

Maddie doesn't discover until much later that Director Colebridge is in fact giving Moretti information about Winston. Winston says he used to pay one supporter in Sanctity, Massachusetts, $25,000 a month as Moretti's accountant. When Colebridge instructs Maddie via communications to call him directly at his home in Sanctity, Massachusetts, Maddie makes the connection. This is sufficient evidence for Maddie to charge Colebridge with corruption. He surely informed Moretti of Winston's intentions to expose him.

Daryl Tragically Perishes in the End of Flight Risk

In Flight Risk, Daryl is a villain who is primarily amusing and possesses a nearly superhuman resistance to pain and harm. Daryl is shot three times by Maddie's government-issued pistol, tased twice, fired with a flare gun, breaks his thumb to escape handcuffs, gets struck in the face by a fire hydrant, and survives falling out of a landing plane. After being crushed by a second truck and impaled by a fire truck pursuing the plane, Daryl is laid to rest. Daryl could not have survived this, even with his Michael Myers-level fortitude.

Why Winston Was Targeted by the EMT at the End of Flight Risk

A suspicious man posing as an EMT arrives from behind the ecstatic Hasan just as Flight Risk seems to be coming to a joyful conclusion. Winston is clinging to life on a stretcher at the rear of the vehicle, and the EMT immediately goes there. When the EMT hitman comes and shuts the door, Winston is surprisingly left alone.

Maddie sees through the hitman's disguise and acts quickly after spotting him. The EMT is attempting to strangle Winston with a clear plastic bag when Maddie unlocks the ambulance door and shoots the EMT many times. Maddie saves the day by murdering the EMT impostor, proving that Moretti had paid more than one hitman to assassinate Winston.

An explanation of Daryl Booth's real identity and background

Throughout Flight Risk, Wahlberg's character goes by Daryl Booth, even though it's clear that this isn't his true name. The real Daryl Booth, the pilot who was tasked with flying Winston and Maddie, was slain by Wahlberg's character. After the real Daryl Booth's ID placard slips out from under the pilot's seat, Winston recognizes it and exposes Wahlberg's "Daryl" who has assumed his identity.

The actual Daryl Booth was discovered dead in his apartment after being mauled by Wahlberg's villain, as Flight Risk subsequently reveals. "Daryl" asks Maddie if she wants to know his true identity while he tries to murder her. He is knocked unconscious by Maddie, who then says, "No one cares what your f***ing name is." Consequently, the real identity of the pilot is never disclosed.

Was U.S. Air Marshal Van Sant Actually Killed?

U.S. Air Marshal Van Sant, whom Maddie seems to trust, is killed in a sad and unplanned vehicle accident after Maddie enlists his assistance. In addition to assigning officers to check on Winston's mother because "Daryl" knew where she lived, Van Sant had connected Maddie to Hasan, who assisted Maddie in landing the plane. Maddie finally landed the plane at the Anchorage airport, where Van Sant was on his way to meet Maddie and Winston.

Maddie immediately concluded that Van Sant had to be Moretti's mole, and she told Colebridge about it. This was probably what Colebridge informed Moretti, who then had one of his cronies crash into Van Sant's vehicle, killing her. Colebridge might have used this to frame Van Sant in order to evade detection, but Maddie had already figured him out thanks to the Sanctity comment. Van Sant, who was also a mother, tragically lost her life in Flight Risk for no apparent reason.

Maddie's Last Prisoner Informant: What Happened?

Daryl shares Maddie's past with Maria, her final prisoner informant. A young woman named Maria was scheduled to testify against a boss of a cartel. Like Winston, Maddie was told to keep Maria safe, therefore she was never allowed to leave her alone. Maddie allowed Maria to take a shower unattended, which was against policy. Maria was burned to death when a Sicario hurled a Molotov cocktail through a window into the bathroom while she was there. As a result, Maddie took a leave of absence from her field work. Colebridge had probably given Moretti a file on Maddie, so Daryl was aware of this.

Why Hasan Arrives To Welcome Maddie To The End Of Flight Risk

In Flight Risk, Hasan assists Maddie in landing the aircraft, but not before making enticing but relentless attempts to ask her out on a date. Despite the fact that this is their first conversation, Hasan seems genuinely interested in Maddie. Despite his absurdly amiable and direct demeanor, Hasan comes across as largely innocuous and doesn't let his dubious and overconfident remarks overpower his piloting advice. When Maddie lands the jet, Hasan appears on the runway in Anchorage. She is happy to see him, which implies they would go on the date Hasan insisted on going on.

The True Significance Of Flight Risk's Ending

The conclusion of Flight Risk seems to have no deeper significance, yet it does convey some important lessons about morality and following your instincts. By falsely accusing Van Sant of being Moretti's mole, Maddie takes responsibility for her passing. Maddie redeems herself by revealing Director Colebridge, Moretti's real mole, and rescuing Winston from the EMT hitman and Daryl. After losing Maria, her last informant prisoner, this also provides her with atonement.

Winston reexamines his life decisions and regrets ever becoming engaged with Moretti in the first place, uncertain of his future. In the end, he comes across as a kind man who made a few too many poor choices. Daryl, on the other hand, is obviously ill and extremely distressed and possesses no redeeming traits. Throughout the 91 minutes of Flight Risk, he never demonstrates any empathy and shows no regret for killing Daryl Booth. Flight Risk is ultimately a straightforward story about deceit, corruption, and good vs evil.