Jodie Foster's role was originally written for Sean Penn. The original character's name of "Kyle" was even kept. Coincidentally, Penn's role in Vidas em Jogo (1997) was originally intended for Jodie Foster.
In real life, Sean Bean, who plays Captain Rich, is terrified of flying and will do it only when absolutely necessary. Peter Sarsgaard also admits to having a lifelong fear of flying.
Although the AALTO Air E-474 featured in this movie is a fictional aircraft, it does bear a strong resemblance in overall design to the real-life double-decker Airbus A380-800, with the movie's cockpit being nearly identical to the A380's.
The airplane instrument panel had to be built from scratch because the instrument panel used in many movies was destroyed in Náufrago (2000).
Erica Christensen (Fiona) hated the high-heeled shoes that her character had to wear because they really hurt her feet. In all shots in which she is only filmed from the waist up, she is walking around without shoes.