Happy Flight (2008)

Happy Flight is a Japanese movie written and directed by Shinobu Yaguchi . It was released by Toho in Japan on November 15, 2008.

Yaguchi spent several years studying the airline industry before making the film and developed a healthy respect for the professionalism of the workers involved. The result is a film that is much an ode to them as it is a comedy.

The film revolves around the airline workers involved in flight No. 1980 from Japan to Honolulu. Seiichi Tanabe stars as the co-pilot, Kazuhiro Suzuki, who will be promoted to captain when they return if all goes according to plan. Haruka Ayase plays Etsuko Saito, a new cabin attendant struggling to learn the ropes on her first international flight.

When the plane hits a bird soon after takeoff, they’re forced to turn around and attempt a landing in typhoon conditions. Through all the technical troubles they face, the various people responsible for keeping commercial airline flight safe work together and experience growth through their ordeal.