The story unfolds in 1970, Tokyo. Kenji is entrusted with a vital mission: to deliver a briefcase to Ikeda Yuji, his new business partner, by flying to Fukuoka. However, their flight is hijacked by the Revolutionary Army, a radical group from the Japanese Communist League, with an agenda to divert the plane to North Korea and spark a revolution.
The news reaches the Japanese Ministry of Transport, but there's no sense of urgency as they discuss potential solutions leisurely. Meanwhile, Captain Honda, a seasoned pilot, acts swiftly. He convinces the hijackers that the plane has no fuel left to reach North Korea, thus landing in Fukuoka for a "refuel."
Japan's response is sluggish, and the desperate hijackers threaten to kill the passengers. Kenji notices a rift within the group, with some, including the leader Yamada, wanting to avoid bloodshed. Kenji steps forward and makes a compelling argument that killing all hostages would eliminate their leverage. He further sweetens the deal by offering his briefcase full of meth as a gift to North Korea.
The hijackers are swayed and let go the women, children, and elderly passengers. Kenji secretly slips a note to the kid who was seated next to him. As expected, the runway is cleared, and Japan "refuels" the plane. Yamada is intrigued by Kenji, who simply claims to have business with the Yakuza.
At the airport, the kid's mother calls someone on the phone. The scene shifts to a South Korean radar control tower where they receive a call from the KCIA director instructing them to seize the plane before it enters North Korea's airspace.
The plane soon takes off and enters the skies of South Korea. Chae Ji-seok, the chief controller, cleverly pretends to be a North Korean. He skillfully guides Captain Honda to land at Gimpo Airport in Seoul. They hang North Korean flags, bring a fake welcoming committee, and disguise their soldiers.
However, as they land, Yamada spots two American officers taking a smoke break. To make matters worse, one of the disguised soldiers accidentally reveals that they are in Seoul. Just before the hijackers can kill anyone, Kenji buys time by spinning more lies.
**Scene: The Dilemma in South Korea and Japan**
South Korea and Japan are at a crossroads, unsure of what to do next. Another South Korean aircraft has been hijacked by North Koreans, and they want to use the hijacked Japanese plane to retrieve the South Korean aircraft. It becomes clear that they deliberately misdirected the plane for this exact reason.
Inside the plane, the engines have shut down, and there is no ventilation. The people inside are unable to breathe. Yamada is at a loss, but Kenji claims his briefcase holds the answer. Desperate, Yamada brings it out, and Kenji kicks it, creating a distraction. It turns out that the hijackers' weapons are fake, and they aren't actual fighters. Kenji easily takes them down and shoots Yamada with a hidden gun in his briefcase.
However, he knows that the on-edge soldiers might spot his meth-filled briefcase if he exits the plane. To ensure it isn't tied back to him, he sticks to his offer. Half of the passengers are released (including himself), and as a guarantee, the Japanese Vice Minister, Natsume, is taken hostage. The plane arrives in North Korea, and the hijackers (who now have the briefcase) are given asylum for being communists. The plane is then sent back, and the rest of the hostages are freed. It's a win for everyone except Ji-seok who is silenced so that no one knows just how selfish South Korea had initially been.
As Kenji had predicted, airports start implementing strict security and anti-hijacking laws. He finally makes it to Fukuoka and meets Yuji. She ends their partnership but he claims it is not over.
