24 - Season 1 Episode 1 -

Jack is called into CTU at midnight and informed of an imminent threat against Senator David Palmer , the first African American with a serious chance at the presidency.

The episode established the series' signature real-time format , where each episode represents one hour of the day. 24 - Season 1 Episode 1

On a commercial flight to L.A., a woman named Mandy steals the identification of a photographer scheduled to meet Senator Palmer before destroying the plane mid-air. Production Facts Jack is called into CTU at midnight and

Simultaneously, Jack's teenage daughter, Kim , snuck out of the house to attend a party, leaving Jack and his wife, Teri , frantic as they realize she is in danger. Production Facts Simultaneously

Originally set for October 2001, the premiere was pushed back a week due to the September 11 terrorist attacks.