An international flight develops engine trouble en route to Athens and is forced to land in Beirut, where it is immobilized for 24 hours. Purser Norman Jones, on the run from a gang of gold smugglers headed by Malouf, gains the sympathy of the flight's captain, Jamie, and other members of the crew who believe that Jones has been wrongly associated with the syndicate. The gang twice attempts to kill Jones and tries to kidnap air hostess Louise, the captain's girl friend, and Jamie learns that Jones is actually a member of Malouf's gang and has stolen £40,000 worth of bullion from the syndicate. Although the gangsters kidnap air hostess Françoise and propose an exchange, Françoise is rescued by the airline crew after a fight. Jones is captured by Malouf and then saved by Jamie and the crew, but just as the plane takes off, Jones is killed by one of Malouf's men.