Q: Was the film "Flight" based in any way on Southern Airways Flight 242, which crashed in Paulding County on April 4, 1977? There seemed to be some similarities between the two incidents. — Sperry Wilder, Roswell
A: "Flight" director Robert Zemeckis told Yahoo.com's MOVIEtalk that the movie is "completely fiction." "The movie draws from different incidents that involved airplane malfunctions from the last couple of decades, but (there is) nothing that it's based on that's a true story," he said. Sixty-three passengers and nine people on the ground were killed when the pilots of Southern Airways Flight 242 tried to land during a severe thunderstorm on Ga. 92 Spur, which is now called Dallas-Acworth Highway. A plaque erected last year calls the crash "The Worst Aircraft Disaster in Georgia History."
Q: I've heard about the Hank Williams movie called "The Last Ride," but I haven't heard any information lately. Can you provide information on if and when it will be shown in Atlanta? — Mary Hallford, Powder Springs
A: "The Last Ride" was released this past summer and was shown in Atlanta, but there are no plans for it to return to area theaters, a spokesman for GS Entertainment Marketing Group told Q&A on the News in an email. He wrote that "The Last Ride" will be released by Fox Home Entertainment on DVD and for download June 1. Henry Thomas plays Hank Williams in the film. More information can be found at www.thelastridefilm.com.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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