FAQ for
Cast Away (2000)

When Chuck returns home, Kelly reveals that it was never discovered exactly what caused the aircraft to crash, but that it was possibly some mislabeled hazardous material in the cargo that ignited. From the evidence provided in the film we can assume a number of things caused the aircraft to crash. First, we get a glimpse of the weather head-up-display prior to the crash - here, it is easy to see that the aircraft is surrounded by hazardous weather and turbulence. Second, we can see through the cockpit windows a brewing lightning storm. Chuck is quite literally sucked out of the lavatory - a tell-tale sign of a loss of cabin pressure. This means that the integrity of the structure of the aircraft was breached. As the aircraft is making its final mayday calls before plunging into the Pacific, we hear the pilots indicate an engine fire (if not multiple engine fires).

So, in summary, we can assume the following from the evidence the film gives us:

- The aircraft's structural integrity was breached (resulting in a loss of cabin pressure) - Something incited an engine fire (this could be a number of things, anything from Kelly's hypothesis to a lightning strike on the aircraft)

In the end, severe weather, turbulence, and disorientation were secondary contributing factors to the crash. A lightning strike or electrical spark from the storm is more probable than a "mislabeled cargo container" (this cargo would not be mixed-up by a mislabel mistake, these cargoes - hazardous and non-hazardous - are transported separately and handled in an entirely different process). The film, however, gives us no definite answer to this question.

With tongue firmly planted in cheek, director Robert Zemeckis was asked in an interview what was in the unopened packaged. He replied that it was a waterproof, solar-powered, satellite phone. In other words, it is not important that the audience know. In the original screenplay, the package contained a couple of bottles of steak sauce. In the third draft of the screenplay (March 13, 1998)the package is opened by chuck on the island after he has lived there for 1000 days. In the package he finds two cans of salsa and a note that reads "You said our life was a prison. Dull. Boring. Empty. I can't begin to tell you how much that hurt. I dont' want to lose you. I'm enclosing some salsa, the verde you like. Use it on your sticky rice and think of home. Then come home-- to me. We'll find the spice in our lives again. Together. I love you. Always. Bettina."

According to the message Chuck carves on the rock when he leaves on his makeshift raft, he was on the island for 1500 days. Give or take a few days, we can assume that Chuck's calculations are correct.

In one of the first scenes in the film, when Chuck and Kelly are at home watching television just before Christmas, we are shown a close-up of several sailing certificates in Chuck's name. Therefore we can assume that Chuck is an experienced sailor, and would know the proper methods to use to determine the direction of the wind, how far he had drifted, etc.

See "What was in the box with the angel wings?"

A divorce occurs throughout the course of the film.

Wilson is a company that makes volleyballs. It says this brand name on the volleyball, which is why Chuck names the volleyball this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_the_Volleyball