plane in six years.
Mr Striker,
I know nothing about flying.
You're the only one on this plane
who can possibly fly it.
You're the only chance we've got.
That's right. That's what I said.
You heard me.
Tell Omaha to acknowledge
and stand by.
Every piece
of emergency equipment available.
Alert rescue units every mile
of the way, from here to the Rockies.
Chief!
We'll need
a free-landing flight check. Fast.
- It's your wife.
- I want the kids in bed by nine,
the dog fed, the yard watered,
the gate locked.
Get a note to the milkman -
"No more cheese."
Where the hell is Kramer?
No, he can't do that.
The risk of a flame-out's too great.
Keep him at 24,000... No, feet.
A passenger is going
to land that plane.
- Is that possible?
- It's a hundred to one shot.
- I know this guy.
- You do? Who is it?
Ted striker.
I flew with him during the war.
It won't make my job easier.
Ted Striker was a crack
flight leader.
He was one of those men who...
felt too much inside.
Maybe you know that kind.
He went all to pieces
on a particular mission.
Let's just hope
that doesn't happen tonight.
Let's see... Altitude, 24,000 feet.
Level flight. Speed, 520 knots.
Course Zero Niner Zero.
Trim, mixture.
Wash, soap, rinse, spin.
Ted! What are you doing here?
You can't fly this plane!
That's what I'm trying to tell them.
Elaine. I don't have time to be
gentle, so I'll be very direct.
Everyone is in a desperate situation.
Mr Striker is the only hope we got.
Those are the flaps.
This is the thrust.
This must turn on the landing lights.
- Mayday! Mayday!
- Mayday? What the hell is that?
May Day's the Russian new year.
We'll have a big parade and serve...
I can't stand it any more.
I've got to get out of here!
Calm down! Get a hold of yourself!
- Please let me handle this.
- I've got to get out...
Calm down. Get to your seat.
I'll handle it.
Calm down. Get ahold of yourself.
Doctor, you're wanted on the phone.
Everything will be all right.
- Sister, I can handle this.
- Got to get out of here!
We'd like you to have this flower.
Excuse me, sir, would you...
Donations for Reverend Moon?
Jews for Jesus?
Read about Jehovah's Witness?
How about Buddhism?
Help Jerry's kids?
- Scientology?
- For nuclear power?
Your attention, please.
No-frills passengers now arriving.
Please have your baggage
claim checks ready to show
upon leaving the terminal.
This guy has no airline experience.
He's a menace
to everything in the air.
Yes, birds, too.
OK, he's a terrible risk,
but what other choice have we got?
That's the whole story, Rex.
Everything we know.
Let's face a few facts.
I flew with Striker during the war.
He can't afford to worry about those
times when... things weren't so good.
- Right now things aren't so good.
- Let me tell you something.
Striker was a top-notch
squadron leader long ago.
Get on the horn
and talk that guy down.
Let him get the feel
of that airplane,
then you'll have to talk him
right down to the ground.
Very well.
Put Striker on the speaker.
Use my radio.
I took the wrong week
to quit drinking.
You can work them direct
from here, Captain.
Striker? Striker, this is
Captain Rex Kramer speaking.
Yes, Captain Kramer.
Read you loud and clear.
All right.
It's obvious you remember me.
What do you say we forget about
everything, except what we must do?
Let's not kid each other, Kramer.
You know I've never flown
a bucket like this.
- I'll need all the luck there is.
- Stand by, Striker.
Our one hope is to build this man up.
I've got to give him confidence.
Striker, you ever flown
a multi-engine plane?
- No, never.
- Shit! It's a goddamn waste of time.
There's no way he can land it!
You got to talk him down! You got to!
Route him into Lake Michigan. At
least avoid killing innocent people.
You're the only chance they've got.
All right.
Striker, you listen,
and you listen close.
Flying a plane
is like riding a bicycle.