McLennan-Forrester sends mercenaries after Bauer and Raines. They critically injure Raines just as agents arrive sent by Tony Almeida and Michelle Dessler. The resulting turmoil allows a stealth fighter to be stolen from an Air Force base in Southern California. The pilot of the fighter shoots down Air Force One, which crashes into the Mojave Desert, almost killing in the process. Vice-President Charles Logan takes over for Keeler and seeks the help of David Palmer, when the role proves too much for him. Ultimately, Marwan's terror cells steal the nuclear football from the Air Force One crash site and they attempt to use it to commandeer a nuclear missile in Iowa.