Commercial airline pilot Whip Whitaker, a seasoned but troubled aviator, heroically lands a malfunctioning jet after a midair catastrophe, saving nearly everyone on board. Plagued by a severe storm and a critical failure that sends the plane into an uncontrolled dive, Whitaker manages to roll the aircraft to stabilize it temporarily, before executing a daring crash-landing in an open field. Lauded as a hero by the public and media for his skilled emergency landing, Whitaker's profound sense of duty and piloting instincts are clear. However, it is soon revealed that his personal life is tangled with addiction issues which raise troubling ethical and legal questions surrounding the flight.

In the aftermath of the incident, an investigation unfolds, scrutinizing the causes of the malfunction and examining Whitaker's actions before and during the flight. As federal agencies delve into the technical aspects of the disaster, they discover alarming evidence about Whip's condition during the flight. The resulting inquiry brings to light the pilot's struggles with alcohol and drugs, juxtaposing his professional expertise with his private vulnerabilities. The intense scrutiny places Whitaker at the center of a storm of moral dilemmas and legal jeopardy, forcing him to confront his demons and the potential consequences of his behavior not only on his career but also on his sense of self.