Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Flight Risk.The ending of Mel Gibson’s 2025 thriller Flight Risk has a major twist and an unforgettable character death. Gibson returns to direct his first feature film since his 2013 Oscar-winner Hacksaw Ridge. While Flight Risk may not be winning any Oscars based on its 22% Rotten Tomatoes score, the action-crime film does offer several twists and turns that make for some high-octane moments. Two-time Oscar nominee Mark Wahlberg and his half-shaved head lead the impressive cast of Flight Risk, which also features performances by four-time Emmy nominee Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) and That ’70s Show alum Topher Grace.

At the end of Flight Risk, hitman-pilot Daryl (Wahlberg) escapes from his handcuffs by breaking his thumb. He stabs mob accountant and informant Winston (Grace) twice and nearly chokes U.S. Air Marshal Maddie to death. Maddie shoots him with a flare gun and restrains him. Daryl gets free again as Maddie is about to land the plane, and Winston is bleeding out. Maddie fires three sH๏τs with her gun at Daryl, hitting his legs. She then lands the plane on a runway in Anchorage and exposes Colebridge, the Director of the U.S. Marshals, for being on mob boss Moretti’s payroll.

Flight Risk’s Director Colebridge Mole Twist & How Maddie Found Out

Colebridge gave himself away by mentioning his house in Sancтιтy, MA

Maddie and Winston are both perplexed by how much Daryl knows about each of their backstories and personal information. Maddie deduces that, since only she and a handful of U.S. Marshal superiors knew that she was moving Winston to face trial, the leak must have come from the inside. She initially suspects that her colleague Van Sant, who sets her up with the pilot Hasan, is the mole by process of elimination.

What Maddie fails to realize until later is that Director Colebridge is actually leaking intel to Moretti about Winston. Winston mentions that, as Moretti’s accountant, he used to pay one supporter $25,000 per month in Sancтιтy, Mᴀssachusetts. Maddie connects the dots when Colebridge tells her over comms to contact him directly at his house in Sancтιтy, MA. This is all the proof that Maddie needs to accuse Colebridge of corruption. He undoubtedly told Moretti about Winston’s plans to rat him out.

Daryl Epically Dies In Flight Risk’s Ending

Daryl is no match for a fleet of fire trucks

Daryl is a mostly entertaining villain in Flight Risk who has an almost superhuman ability to resist pain and injury. Throughout the movie, Daryl is tased twice, sH๏τ with a flare gun, sH๏τ three times by Maddie’s government-issued pistol, breaks his thumb to slide out of handcuffs, takes a fire hydrant to the face, and survives tumbling out of a landing plane. Daryl is laid to rest after getting impaled by a fire truck in pursuit of the plane, then being crushed by a second truck. Despite his Michael Myers-level resiliency, there’s no way Daryl could have survived this.

Why The EMT Tried To Kill Winston At The End Of Flight Risk

Daryl wasn’t the only hitman hired by Moretti to kill Winston

Just when Flight Risk appears to have a happy ending, a suspicious man disguised as an EMT emerges from behind the overjoyed Hasan. The EMT heads straight to the back of the ambulance, where Winston is hanging on for his life on a stretcher. Surprisingly, Winston is left unattended as the EMT hitman approaches and closes the door.

Maddie spots him and immediately springs into action, seeing through the hitman’s disguise. Maddie opens the ambulance door and fires several sH๏τs at the EMT, who is trying to suffocate Winston with a clear plastic bag. It appears that Daryl wasn’t the only hitman that Moretti hired to take out Winston, but Maddie saves the day, killing the EMT impostor.

Daryl Booth’s True Idenтιтy & Backstory Explained

“Daryl” killed the real Daryl Booth, but his name is never revealed

Wahlberg’s character identifies himself as Daryl Booth throughout Flight Risk, though it’s evident that this isn’t his real name. Wahlberg’s character killed the real Daryl Booth, who was the actual pilot ᴀssigned to transport Winston with Maddie. Wahlberg’s “Daryl” ᴀssumes his idenтιтy but is exposed once Winston spots the real Daryl Booth’s ID placard after it slips out from underneath the pilot’s seat.

It’s later revealed in Flight Risk that Wahlberg’s villain mutilated the real Daryl Booth, who was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in his apartment. As “Daryl” attempts to kill Maddie, he asks her whether she wants to know his real name. After Maddie breaks free and knocks him out, she tells him, “No one cares what your f***ing name is.” As a result, the pilot’s true idenтιтy is never revealed.

Who Really Killed U.S. Air Marshal Van Sant?

One of Moretti’s mobsters likely crashed into her intentionally

After Maddie enlists the help of U.S. Air Marshal Van Sant, someone who she appears to trust, Van Sant ends up dying in a tragic and random car accident. Van Sant had linked Maddie to Hasan, who helped Maddie land the plane, and had also set officers to check on Winston’s mother since “Daryl” knew where she lived. Van Sant was en route to meet Maddie and Winston at the Anchorage airport, where Maddie eventually landed the plane.

Maddie jumped to the conclusion that Van Sant must have been Moretti’s mole and relayed that accusation to Colebridge. Colebridge likely told this to Moretti, who had one of his ᴀssociates drive into Van Sant’s car, killing her. This way, Colebridge could have framed Van Sant to avoid detection, but Maddie had already figured him out with the Sancтιтy remark. Tragically, Van Sant, who was also a mother, died for nothing in Flight Risk.

What Happened To Maddie’s Last Prisoner Informant?

Maria died tragically before she could testify

Daryl reveals Maddie’s backstory with her last prisoner informant, Maria. Maria was a young woman who was going to testify against a cartel boss. Like Winston, Maddie was instructed to protect Maria, which meant she could never leave her unattended. Maddie broke protocol by letting Maria shower without supervision. While she was in the bathroom, a Sicario threw a Molotov cocktail inside through a window and Maria burned to death. Maddie took some time off from being a field agent as a result. Daryl knew this because Colebridge had likely given Moretti a file on Maddie.

Why Hasan Shows Up To Greet Maddie In Flight Risk’s Ending

Hasan wants to take Maddie on a date

Hasan helps Maddie land the plane in Flight Risk — but not without his charming yet persistent advances to take her on a date. Hasan seems genuinely interested in Maddie, even though this is the first time they’ve ever spoken to each other. Hasan, while ridiculously friendly and forward, appears mostly harmless and doesn’t allow his questionable and overly confident comments to override his guidance as a pilot. Hasan shows up in person on the runway in Anchorage after Maddie lands the plane. She looks pleased to see him, which suggests they will go on that date Hasan relentlessly asked about.

The Real Meaning Of Flight Risk’s Ending

Flight Risk tells a classic good vs. evil tale

While there appears to be no greater meaning in Flight Risk‘s ending, the story delivers a few key messages about morality and trusting your gut. Maddie ᴀssumes guilt for Van Sant’s death by wrongfully accusing her of being Moretti’s mole. Maddie earns redemption by exposing Moretti’s true mole, Director Colebridge, and saves Winston’s life from both Daryl and the EMT hitman. This also offers her redemption after losing her last informant prisoner, Maria.

Unsure if he’s going to make it, Winston rethinks his life choices and regrets ever getting involved with Moretti in the first place. He ultimately comes off as a good guy who made a few too many bad decisions. As for Daryl, he has no redemptive qualities and is clearly sick and deeply troubled. He has no remorse for killing Daryl Booth and never shows an ounce of humanity within Flight Risk’s 91-minute runtime. In the end, Flight Risk is a simple tale of good vs. evil, corruption, and deception.