CAST LIST

SYNOPSIS

Ms. Jerry Langford, head of a large Commercial Airport, is returning from an appointment in a small plane. Suddenly and without warning the pilot loses all control of the plane’s systems, sending the aircraft out of control. Watching this occur on the ground is a man playing with a model aircraft, who informs a mystery colleague via walkie-talkie that the test, above the village of Huntsford, has been a success. In a room filled with computers, a shadowy figure is revealed to be controlling the plane via a sophisticated flight simulator programme. The plane is released as a fax is sent to the airport threatening "next time, we keep control": the letter is signed "Icarus"

The Gizmos team arrives at the airport and is briefed by Langford on the situation. Ros is in the middle of processing the incoming fax signal from Icarus when Nigel Todd, the Head of Airport Security, interrupts the team. Beckett takes an instant dislike to him, and he is less than enthusiastic about the threesome’s presence. Todd believes the incident with Langford can be simply put down to pilot error. Ed notices a man being escorted away from the Airport by Security guards: Langford identifies him as Kirkby, an "aviation enthusiast" (and the man with the walkie-talkie) Ed suggests that Ros go and talk to him, whilst he and Beckett check out the aircraft Langford was travelling in. Before they have a chance to do so an unidentified individual attacks, and almost kills Ed. Unable to catch the assailant, they are joined moments later by Richard Wyman, the Airport’s Technical Director. Langford suggests they may get something from the Designer of the NavCom autopilot software found in the plane: Quentin Elverson lives locally, but according to Wyman is an eccentric and not worth the effort. Beckett goes anyway, and is given a copy of the software from Elverson himself to test. Ros meanwhile is with Kirkby posing as a Newspaper reporter, who she is less than impressed with. A visitor to Kirkby’s home interrupts their "interview": this distraction allows Ros a chance to record the fax signal from Kirkby’s machine. When he doesn’t return after the visitor leaves, Ros goes to look for him and finds him dead.

Matching the fax signatures Ros confirms that Kirkby sent Icarus’ fax. Setting up equipment on the roof the team is angrily stopped by Todd, who believes they are overstepping their remit. Alarms suddenly sound around the airport and the team find Langford who tells them that an inbound flight from Malagar has lost all control and is heading for the Airport. The plane is using the NavCom Guidance System. Icarus is behind the take-over, and releases the plane seconds before it is about to hit the ground. Messages suddenly appear on every computer screen in the Airport: Icarus demands £5 million pounds. Langford sees no choice but to pay the ransom, Todd angrily blames Beckett and his team and demands they are ejected from the Airport. Langford reluctantly agrees, but Ros convinces the Airport Boss to allow them to remain on site until their time-coded passes run out. However, Todd voids the passes anyway, forcing the team to break into the hanger where the plane from Malagar is being stored. Whilst in the middle of their investigation, Todd arrives and catches Beckett and Ed: Ros however is inside the plane and hides in a storage locker to evade capture. Icarus has plans for the plane, and starts it automatically: Ros is trapped on board and, despite Beckett and Ed’s efforts to free her, is still trapped as the plane takes off. Icarus is revealed to be Quentin Elverson.

Langford decides that the ransom must be paid. Ros, despite her obvious fear, is able to locate the bug controlling the ‘plane. Urged to remove it, she does so and sends the plane into a terrifying dive. Realising the system is tamper-proof, Beckett send Ed to trace the source of the signal. The ransom money arrives and Todd, along with Wyman, volunteers to take the money to the location specified by Icarus: a local pub. Beckett prepares a specially bugged suitcase, with a special backup transmitter…Ros becomes increasingly more uncomfortable, as it becomes clear she’s running out of fuel. As Ed searches for the source of the signal, Beckett follows Todd and Wyman, hoping to track them to Icarus. Arriving at the Pub, Todd gets out of the car to stretch his legs. Seconds later, Beckett hears a gunshot via the suitcase microphone…when he arrives at the pub both Wyman and the money are gone, and Todd is dead.

Wyman goes to Elverson with the ransom, who insists he bring down the circling plane with Ros aboard before they leave with the money. Impatient and greedy, Wyman shoots Elverson and makes a getaway. Moments later Ed traces the source of the transmissions, discovering Elverson’s dead body. Beckett meanwhile informs Langford that Wyman is the blackmailer, and she helps him work out where Wyman is heading with the money: his Flying Club. Ed is having difficulty working out how to get Ros down using Elverson’s computers: however, he is running out of time and Ros is running out of fuel. With her help he works out how to fly the plane and successfully brings Ros down for a textbook landing. Beckett finally catches up with Wyman who trying to avoid Beckett’s pursuit drives into a flatbed trailer parked on the runway, and kills himself.