Oliver Wood was considered to be the film's director of photography, but he was unable to take the job, due to the broken ankle he sustained while shooting Cutthroat Island. He was replaced by Peter Levy (who had also replaced him on Cutthroat Island). Director John Woo later picked Wood to shoot his next film, Face/Off.
The phrase "broken arrow" is not actually used to refer to the theft, loss or seizure of nuclear weapons or components from the U.S.;that's known as an "empty quiver". A "broken arrow" is defined by CJCSI 3150.03B, Joint Reporting Structure Event and Incident Reports, as a US nuclear weapon accident that does not create the risk of a nuclear war.
In an interview on Parkinson, Halle Berry recalled that the producers turned her down for the role of Terry Carmichael and told her "there are no black park rangers".
During the final few blows of the last fist fight, as Hale is punching and kicking, growls and roars of large cats (i.e. lions, tigers, etc.) can be heard.
To promote the film, the publicity unit sent sunglasses resembling the ones worn by John Travolta to media outlets. The sunglasses had the Broken Arrow logo printed on the lower left lens.
According to "Trains" Magazine, the train chase scene was actually filmed on the Shortline Montana Western, which of course is not in Utah or Colorado. There is no real rail company called "National Regional."
John Woo:
[verbal confrontation between opponents from opposite sites of a wall]
Deakins (John Travolta) and Hale (Christian Slater) talk to each other through a caved-in part of the mine.