On a routine flight from Miami to Boston, Captain Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) faces a harrowing crisis when an engine malfunction sends his plane plummeting toward certain disaster. As the terrified passengers hold onto barely a sliver of hope, Whip navigates the dire situation with expert acumen and steely resolve, culminating in a heroic landing that boasts miraculously few casualties. However, when investigation of the accident yields startling revelations involving questionable decisions by the veteran pilot, Whip's unwavering confidence begins to crack, putting his career and reputation in jeopardy.