Ted Stryker (Dana Andrews) has drifted through life unsuccessfully since he led a dreadful air attack in World War II. When his wife, Ellen (Linda Darnell), and his son leave him, Ted hurries onto their plane, where he tries to convince Ellen that he has changed. Meanwhile, many of the people on the flight, including the pilot (Elroy Hirsch), fall ill with food poisoning. It's left up to Ted, with help from Captain Treleaven (Sterling Hayden) in air control, to safely land the plane.