Robert Hays and Leslie Nielsen star in this classic satirical disaster comedy. Former fighter pilot Ted Striker (Hays) hasn't flown since the war, when an error of judgement on his part led to the decimation of his squadron. Now he has a drink problem and his girlfriend - air hostess Elaine Dickinson (Julie Hagerty) - has walked out on him. Desperate to get her back, Ted follows her onto her next flight, which goes horribly wrong when the entire cabin crew succumb to food poisoning mid-air. Aided by Elaine, the unflappable Doctor Rumack (Nielsen) and his former nemesis Rex Kramer (Robert Stack) back at air control, Ted makes a valiant effort to fly the plane to safety. But has he still got what it takes?