The co-pilot Paul Mittelstedt is feeling good about his final flight before the test for his pilot's license, but then he finds out that Marlies has fallen in love with another man.

The IL-62 needs an inspection after being struck by lightning. This means that only Paul Mittelstedt can go see the Cuban pilot Santiago Cordoba. Paul falls for Santiago's fiancée. When Santiago finds out he challenges Paul to a duel.

The crew are on their way to deliver morphine and medical equipment to Angola. After a bird breaks the cockpit window forcing an emergency landing in another African country, the local airport officials demand large fees. A group of weapons smugglers tries to steal the morphine from the unguarded plane.

Karin is having a tough time balancing her work as a stewardess with her duties as a single parent. Her ex-husband thinks they might get back together, but she's not interested. Her suitor, Arthur, a zoologist, isn't having much luck with her either. When she gets bitten by a snake, he is called in as a consultant.

Captain Steinitz is looking forward to spending a few days with his wife in the 'Italian Room' of a hotel on the Baltic, but then he is called to deliver equipment to Angola.

Stewardess Li's jealous fiancé Hanh wants her to give up her job and stay home. Her colleagues try unsuccessfully to talk to her parents. Paul Mittelstedt, the co-pilot tries to talk to Hanh while in Hanoi, but his way of dealing Hanh just hurts his feelings. Paul tries to get closer to Caroline, but she lets him know she is not interested in a fling.

Co-pilot Paul Mittelstedt has to postpone a visit to his new girlfriend's parents to fly wounded Sandinistas out of Nicaragua.

Paul Mittelstedt gets hit by a drunk driver and this looks like the end of his career as a pilot. He starts to question everything.