The story centers around an eccentric aeronautical engineer, Theodore Honey, who works for the Royal Aircraft Establishment. He's tasked with investigating the structural integrity of the Reindeer, a new type of airplane. Honey becomes convinced that the Reindeer's tailplane will fail after a certain number of flight hours due to metal fatigue, but his warnings are initially dismissed because he lacks concrete evidence. While en route to examine a crashed Reindeer, Honey discovers to his horror that the plane he is currently on is one of the Reindeers close to reaching its critical flight hours.

With mounting anxiety, Honey informs the crew and passengers about his finding, leading to diverse reactions among those onboard. Some believe him, stirring tension and panic, while others remain skeptical. As the situation escalates, Honey's dedication and unorthodox methods clash with corporate skepticism and protocol. His determination puts him at odds with authorities and colleagues alike, challenging both engineering principles and human faith in technology. The unfolding drama revolves around whether his alarming prediction can be validated in time to prevent a catastrophic failure.