John is taking a trip to England when a murder takes place on his plane and he must try to find the culprit. Of course, when the pilots are also taken out of commission, he also has to fly the plane…

Even if you're getting a little bored with the police procedural element of the show, this episode is well worth checking out. Firstly, the different setting is a big help, as it provides a claustrophobic atmosphere you don't normally have, not only amping up the tension caused by no one being able to escape, but also through the fact that the killer has to still be on board, and could kill again at any time. The guest stars fill in extremely well for the regulars; Gabrielle Anwar is lovely as Rachel, the doctor John is sitting with who becomes his closest confidante and really gets into his mind, forming an interesting relationship that deserves further exploration. We've seen precious little of John's interactions with women, and this aspect of his personality deserves to be drawn on a little more. From the evidence here, there's a good chemistry between the pair that could be drawn out more.

Equally, the British inspector who's on the flight is a good character; a little brash and full of himself, with a rather too posh accent to actually be a Brit, but still serves a useful purpose in the show, leading the investigation, getting in the way, and providing a point of suspicion for later in the episode. Yes, he's taking off the suspect list quickly, but you're certainly made to play along for a bit.

From the time the show starts, we know John will wind up flying the plane at some point, but it's Dominic Purcell's fun approach that makes it more than just another day with all the world's knowledge in his head. While he knows he can do it, actually sitting down and taking control is a terrifying concept to John, and it's played out well.

It's not a perfect story; the passengers rebelling and locking John in a toilet seems more a way to slow the denouement down a little bit rather than a sensible piece of plotting, and the Russian weight-lifting team are a little too convenient. The killer is also not very well drawn, having a poor motive and looking like an unlikely candidate, but generally speaking this is a very clever and enjoyable episode.

****

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