Airplane! 1980

Ted Striker (Robert Hays), a former fighter pilot turned taxi driver, is haunted by the demons of his past. His inability to shake off the trauma of war has led him down a path of self-destructive habits, including excessive drinking and an irrational fear of flying. His relationship with Elaine Dickinson (Julie Hagerty), a stewardess at Trans American Airlines, has reached a breaking point when she breaks off their romance just before her flight from Los Angeles to Chicago. In a desperate attempt to win her back, Ted overcomes his paralyzing fear and purchases a ticket on the same flight.

As he boards the plane, Elaine remains aloof, refusing to give him another chance. However, Ted’s melancholy is soon interrupted by chaos when many passengers fall ill after consuming their in-flight meal. Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nielsen) quickly diagnoses food poisoning caused by the fish served during the meal service. The flight crew, including Captain Clarence Oveur (Peter Graves) and Roger Murdock (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), are all incapacitated, leaving no one to pilot the plane. In a last-ditch effort, Elaine contacts the Chicago control tower and is instructed by Steve McCroskey (Lloyd Bridges) to activate the autopilot system, a blow-up dummy named “Otto” that can get them to their destination but not land the plane safely.

As the situation becomes increasingly dire, Elaine realizes that Ted’s unique skills as a pilot may be their only hope. Despite his reservations and lingering trauma, Ted is convinced to take control of the plane, facing a daunting challenge as he navigates through a thunderstorm and confronts his deep-seated fears.

In a dramatic turn of events, Captain Rex Kramer (Robert Stack), Ted’s former commander, is called in to provide guidance over the radio. With Kramer’s steady stream of advice and encouragement, Ted manages to overcome his anxieties and land the plane safely, albeit with some minor damage to the landing gear. The passengers, though shaken, emerge relatively unscathed.

In a poignant moment, Elaine rekindles her romance with Ted as they watch Otto take control of the evacuated plane, inflating a female companion in preparation for its next journey.