Let's talk Parallel Universes/Infinite Earths.
As we all know, DC has this Infinite Earths crisis going on, but we never talk about the possibility of this logic being applied to the Plane Scene and TDKR.
We know that there is a great possibility that alternate realities and parallel universes can be applied to the movie.
So maybe we can discuss something like this. Let's get a list going:
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>Earth (Prime)
The events as seen on-screen occur. CIA takes Pavel up into the air before Bane comes to take Pavel away and crash CIA's plane with no survivors.
The Dark Knight Rises
>Earth 1
The exact same events occur, however, Bane snaps CIA's neck.
TDKR novelization, TDKR digital comic
>Earth 2
The events occur as per-usual, but time is set 3 years before OR after that of Earth Prime.
(explains the debate between 2016 and 2013 as the year that TDKR takes place)
>Earth 3
The events occur as per-usual, but the roles of CIA and Bane are switched.
>Earth 4
So on and so on, albeit everyone's genders are switched ("You're a big girl").
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CONTINUE!