You’re stuck in a pressurized metal tube at 30,000 feet. There’s no exit. There’s no help. And then the guy in seat 4B starts trying to eat your face. That’s basically the pitch for Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane, a movie that honestly shouldn’t have worked as well as it did. Most people remember it as "Zombies on a Plane" because, well, the title isn’t exactly subtle. But what really kept this 2007 cult hit from spiraling into the bargain bin of forgotten cinema was the Flight of the Living Dead cast.
They weren't just a bunch of redshirts waiting to get bitten.
Director Scott Thomas managed to pull together a group of actors who took the ridiculous premise—a genetically engineered virus escaping a secret lab in the cargo hold—and played it with just enough grit to make you actually care who survived the landing. It’s a weirdly effective mix of TV veterans, character actors, and faces you’ve definitely seen in a dozen other things but can’t quite place.
The Heavy Lifters: Who Led the Flight of the Living Dead Cast
At the center of the chaos is David Chisum, playing Truman. He’s the classic reluctant hero, an undercover cop who just wanted a quiet flight. Chisum brings a grounded, blue-collar energy to the role that balances out the more over-the-top elements of the plot. Before this, he was mostly known for daytime television, specifically One Life to Live, but he handles the action beats here with surprising competence. He’s not an invincible superhero; he looks tired, stressed, and genuinely freaked out, which is exactly what you want in a survival horror protagonist.
Then you have Kristen Kerr as Megan, the flight attendant. In most horror movies from the mid-2000s, the female lead was often relegated to screaming or being a damsel, but Megan actually gets things done. Kerr had a background in modeling and smaller roles in films like Inland Empire, but here she’s the backbone of the civilian side of the cast.
One of the standout performances, though, comes from Kevin J. O'Connor. If you’re a fan of Stephen Sommers’ The Mummy or Lord of Illusions, you know exactly who he is. He plays Frank, a guy who isn’t exactly thrilled to be dealing with the undead at high altitude. O'Connor has this nervous, twitchy charisma that makes every scene better. He’s the kind of character actor who understands the assignment—he knows he’s in a movie called Flight of the Living Dead, and he leans into the anxiety of the situation without making it a caricature.
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The Supporting Players and Cameos
It wouldn't be a mid-2000s genre flick without a few "hey, I know that guy" moments. Richard Tyson shows up as Paul, and if you grew up in the 90s, you probably recognize him as the villain from Kindergarten Cop. He brings a certain level of menace even before the zombies show up. Then there’s Erick Avari as Dr. Bennett. Avari is a legend in the sci-fi and horror world, appearing in everything from Stargate to The Mummy. He’s the one responsible for the "science" behind the outbreak, and his presence adds a layer of gravitas that the movie probably didn't deserve but benefited from immensely.
Rounding out the group, you’ve got:
- Derek Webster as Ray, the co-pilot.
- Raymond J. Barry as Captain Banyon (a veteran actor who’s been in everything from Born on the Fourth of July to Justified).
- Todd Babcock as the frantic Co-Pilot.
- Siena Goines as Anna.
The chemistry between these performers is what prevents the movie from feeling like a cheap Snakes on a Plane knockoff. They play the stakes as if they're in a high-budget disaster film, which makes the gore and the claustrophobia hit much harder.
Why the Casting Choices Saved the Movie
Usually, direct-to-video (or limited release) horror movies suffer from what I call "cardboard acting." You know the type. Actors who are clearly just waiting for their paycheck or reading lines for the first time. But the Flight of the Living Dead cast avoided this trap by leaning into the tension.
Take the setting.
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The movie was filmed primarily on a soundstage in Los Angeles, using a decommissioned Boeing 747. Because the space was so tight, the actors had to be physically on top of each other. You can see the genuine discomfort in their performances. When the zombies start crawling through the overhead bins and tearing through the economy section, the panic feels authentic because the cast had no room to move.
It’s also worth noting that the film had a troubled production history. It was originally titled Plane Dead and sat on a shelf for a while before being rebranded to capitalize on the Living Dead name. A lesser cast would have let that uncertainty bleed into their work, but this group stayed professional. They treated the "outbreak on a plane" scenario with the same intensity you’d expect from a Romero film.
The Zombie Evolution
We have to talk about the zombies themselves. The film used a mix of "fast" and "smart" zombies, which was a bit of a departure from the slow shamblers popularized by The Walking Dead later on. The actors playing the undead—many of whom were local stunt performers—had to navigate narrow aisles and seats while wearing heavy prosthetics. The makeup effects, led by industry veterans, were surprisingly high quality for the budget. The cast members playing the survivors had to react to these practical effects in real-time, which helps the movie hold up better than the CGI-heavy messes of the same era.
Where Are They Now?
Looking back at the Flight of the Living Dead cast in 2026, it’s interesting to see where their careers went.
David Chisum continued to be a reliable presence in television, appearing in shows like Supergirl and American Horror Story. Kevin J. O'Connor remains one of the most sought-after character actors in Hollywood, recently appearing in high-profile projects for directors like Paul Thomas Anderson. Kristen Kerr moved more into the production side of things while still taking occasional roles.
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Richard Tyson is still a staple of the independent horror circuit, often appearing at conventions where fans still ask him about his time on the doomed flight. Erick Avari has largely retired from screen acting but remains a beloved figure in the sci-fi community.
The film serves as a time capsule of a specific moment in horror history. It was the tail end of the "zombie craze" that started with 28 Days Later and Dawn of the Dead (2004). It was also a time when practical effects were still fighting a losing battle against cheap digital blood. Seeing this cast work through those practical sets is a reminder of why tactile filmmaking feels so much more visceral.
Final Take on the Ensemble
Honestly, the movie is better than it has any right to be. If you go into it expecting Citizen Kane, you’re going to have a bad time. But if you want to see a group of talented actors try to survive a biological weapon while trapped in a pressurized cabin, it’s a gold mine.
The Flight of the Living Dead cast took a "high concept, low budget" script and gave it a pulse. They understood that in horror, the audience doesn't just want to see people die; they want to see people try to live. That struggle is what makes the movie a recurring favorite for late-night movie marathons.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re planning a rewatch or seeing it for the first time, keep an eye on the background actors. A lot of the "passengers" in the early scenes are actually friends of the production or aspiring actors who ended up doing double duty as zombies later in the shoot.
- Focus on the transitions: Notice how the lighting shifts from sterile "airplane white" to deep, moody reds as the infection spreads.
- The Gore: Most of the blood is practical. Watch for the scene in the cockpit; the logistics of filming that with the limited space are actually pretty impressive.
- The Dialogue: Some of it is cheesy, sure, but the delivery from O'Connor and Chisum keeps it from becoming a parody of itself.
If you are a fan of 2000s horror, your next step should be looking into the filmography of the supporting cast. Many of these actors formed the backbone of the "Scream Queen" and "Indie Horror" movement of that decade. Check out Kevin J. O'Connor’s work in There Will Be Blood to see the range of a guy who once fought zombies in a 747. Also, look for the special features on the DVD release (if you can still find a physical copy) for some great behind-the-scenes footage of how they built the plane sets. It gives you a whole new appreciation for the physical labor the cast put in.