The action-filled second half of the film sees the Tu-154 Aeroflot airplane landing in the fictional foreign town of Bidri, which appears to be located somewhere in a mountain region of Asia.

Soon after, an earthquake destroys the city, and the damaged runway is no longer suitable for normal take-offs (another plane – a Boeing – is shown crashing in the attempt).

The experienced senior officer decides to take advantage of the fact that the airport was built on a mountain, so the plane will be able to descend rather than ascend as soon as it leaves the runway.

The captain had first insisted on going through a speedy but complete take-off protocol, involving a check of the aircraft in accordance with the prescribed rules – perhaps in order to calm the crew by having them perform their normal tasks.

During its take-off run next to the mudflow, the plane receives some serious damage when a runway light gets jammed in the elevators and a crack appears near the tail section.