Episode 2 of Hijack opens with Sam desperately attempting to persuade Simon and the others of his innocent intentions. His sole desire is a simple one - to return home to the loving arms of his family. Amidst his pleadings, the two mysterious gentlemen from the previous episode silently execute their plan. They ambush Jaden, overwhelming him with their unexpected attack. As he falls, Jaden's gun discharges, drawing the immediate attention of everyone present. Chaos erupts as the group frantically searches for the missing weapon. Sam, however, manages to locate it and hands it over to Stuart, a gesture aimed at gaining his trust and confidence.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Daniel reaches out to his former girlfriend, Zara, who works in counterterrorism. She assures him that she will delve into the unfolding incident. Elsewhere, a new character enters the fray, potentially holding the key to the future events. Alice, a presumably late air traffic controller, scrambles to secure childcare for her son, Bobby. Terry issues a chilling warning on behalf of the hijackers - any further disruptions will result in bloodshed.
Sam discreetly slips a note to Stuart, its contents chilling. The paper reads, "The pilot is a problem." Zara fulfills her promise, reaching out to the British ATC to communicate with the Dubai ATC. Among the controllers, only one appears agitated and eager for clarity. He senses something amiss with Flight 29. Determined to unearth the truth, he delves into the security cameras, scrutinizing the footage from before boarding.
Inside the hijacked plane, the passengers begin to notice Sam's unusual interactions with the hijackers. One passenger, forcibly moved from first class to economy, whispers to the others that Sam has aligned himself with the hijackers. Against this backdrop, Sam manages to convince Stuart of the necessity to remove the pilot, Robin, from the cockpit. He orchestrates an in-flight game, capitalizing on a feature that allows passengers to "chat with the opponent." This unique aspect of the game offers a covert means of communication - any passenger can choose to send a message to another occupant. Sam seizes this opportunity, sending a request to the seat occupied by Robin. As the two engage in a seemingly innocent conversation, the tension within the cabin only continues to mount.
In Dubai, the meticulous controller pores over the footage, catching a glimpse of Neela rising from her post, much earlier than her shift had concluded. Meanwhile, Marsha's fury boils over when Daniel informs her that Sam had raised a false alarm. Deep in thought about his intricate relationship with Zara and the uncertain future of his current bond with Marsha, he finds himself embroiled in a conversation with her.
Robin's terse words echo in the cockpit, warning that failure to respond to the urgent requests from Iraqi airspace will prompt military intervention. The hijackers, ears pricked, hear the demands. Sam springs to action, urging Stuart to allow Robin to respond. He warns that any delay will only heighten the ground control's suspicions. Stuart heeds his advice but tasks Anna with answering the call. Suspicion creeps in when Anna identifies herself as the captain.
Sam rushes to pry Robin from his seat, but the latter remains resolute. Sam reminds him that Collette's life hangs in the balance if he doesn't comply. This jolts Robin into action, and he reluctantly answers the call, defusing the tense situation. But what role does Sam play in this drama? Before exiting the cockpit, Robin surreptitiously alters the plane's trajectory, a subtle manipulation that escapes everyone's notice.
Alice strides into the British ATC, her eyes shining with determination. Upon learning about the "false alarm" from K29, her suspicions are piqued. She approaches her boss, Simon, seeking clarification. Something doesn't sit right with her; a passenger had already alerted counterterrorism before the pilot dismissed it as a false alarm. She presses Simon to contact the Iraqi ATC, and her hunch is confirmed when the Iraqis share their screen, revealing a deviation in the flight path.
The situation escalates when Michael, Simon's superior, gets involved. It transpires that the deviation was a calculated move by Robin and Sam to alert the authorities. Such a deviation signifies that the plane has been compromised.
The episode concludes on a heartrending note. The Dubai ATC controller, burdened with foreboding, makes his way to Neela's house. There, he finds Senil and Neela's lifeless body, surrounded by English-speaking cleaners. In a shocking turn of events, one of them coldly executes the controller with a bullet to the head, leaving the scene in a pool of blood and tragedy.
