The film begins with Ted Stryker flying fighter planes in World War II. He eventually goes on a mission where six pilots don't come home and he loses his edge. He's seen struggling with the effects of war while in a military hospital. Ten years later, Stryker is back at home in Canada and out of a job and his marriage is failing. When he finally is given work he comes home to find that his wife, Ellen has left with their son, Joey on a flight to get away. Stryker finds his wife's note and is able to purchase a ticket aboard the same flight in hopes of rekindling their marriage.
On board, the passengers and pilots are fed dinner. Shortly after, those who had the fish for dinner begin to have a severe reaction as the meal was contaminated. Eventually both pilots pass out, and Stryker is the only person aboard who even remotely knows how to fly. He reluctantly takes the helm of the airplane, knowing that he flew single engine planes in the war and it has been a very long time since he's been in the air. Ellen becomes the co-pilot and works the radio for him while Joey suffers from food poisoning. On the ground, Captain Martin Treleaven is called in to help Stryker land the plane. The two know each other from the war and are not on good terms with one another. But, with the weather conditions getting worse from a fog storm along with rain and ice, they must work together if anyone is going to live.
Stryker is told to hold his course as they have to maintain for a much longer time in the air, but he won't do it. His son is near death along with many of the passengers and he declares that he is bringing the plane down now. He is able to make it to the Vancouver runway where he crash lands the plane. The doctor on board, Dr. Baird tells Ted and Ellen that Joey will be fine, they made it in the nick of time, and Capt. Treleaven wants to shake Ted's hand and buy him a drink. And, it looks as if he and Ellen's marriage has the potential to be saved.
