Quincy has to persuade a group of hijackers that the plane they, and their hostages, are on has been exposed to a deadly virus.Quincy has to persuade a group of hijackers that the plane they, and their hostages, are on has been exposed to a deadly virus.Quincy has to persuade a group of hijackers that the plane they, and their hostages, are on has been exposed to a deadly virus.
Photos
Tony La Torre
- Boy
- (as Tony LaTorre)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe aircraft shown in most exterior views is a Convair 880, a short-lived and rather unpopular type once used by around a dozen airlines. The specific aircraft shown was initially flown by Japan Airlines, and was owned by Century 2000 at the time of the Quincy episode. Subsequently, it was converted to a freighter and flown by Profit Express, Aero American Corporation, and Central American Airways, before being scrapped at Puerto Rico in 1985.
- GoofsThe hijacked aircraft, alternately called Alpha Bravo 6367 and PLL 636, is told to land on "Auxiliary Runway Number 4". Although Los Angeles International Airport has four runways, none is named runway four. Runways take their names from their directions, and in reference to adjacent runways of similar direction. All four runways at LAX face the same direction, and when approached from the sea as in the episode, are referred to as 6L, 6R, 7L, and 7R.
Featured review
Terrible episode
Holding Pattern begins with a hijacked plane that has just landed sitting on the runway at LAX with terrorists aboard and making demands. There is a dead man on board, but the hijackers maintain that they are not responsible for his death and throw the body from the plane. Quincy (Jack Klugman) is called in to examine the body and his findings reveal that the man died from a highly contagious virus which everyone on the plane may have also been affected by. Quincy works to convince the terrorists of the urgent need for immediate medical treatment for all on board to counteract the virus despite the hostage situation and a negotiator (Gerald O'Laughlin) who opposes his tactics.
I don't think I can come up with one positive thing to say about this ridiculous episode. There is no murder mystery as we learn right away that the passenger died of natural causes. The hijackers/terrorists are not convincing in any way and why exactly did they land the hijacked plane at LAX, one of the busiest and most secure airports in the country, rather than some remote location? Speaking of the plane, when do we ever see a commercial airline flying a 747 type plane with 17 passengers on board? (yes, the number was specified) I also couldn't believe that in the midst of a hostage crisis and a hijacked plane sitting right in front of them on the runway that the control room Quincy and the negotiator are seen in throughout the episode was so cool, calm and collected appearing to be just another day at the office where you see a handful of people in the background chatting on the phones as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening. Ridiculous! I could go on and on like this, but I think you get the picture.
Overall a terrible episode and possibly the worst of Season 3.
I don't think I can come up with one positive thing to say about this ridiculous episode. There is no murder mystery as we learn right away that the passenger died of natural causes. The hijackers/terrorists are not convincing in any way and why exactly did they land the hijacked plane at LAX, one of the busiest and most secure airports in the country, rather than some remote location? Speaking of the plane, when do we ever see a commercial airline flying a 747 type plane with 17 passengers on board? (yes, the number was specified) I also couldn't believe that in the midst of a hostage crisis and a hijacked plane sitting right in front of them on the runway that the control room Quincy and the negotiator are seen in throughout the episode was so cool, calm and collected appearing to be just another day at the office where you see a handful of people in the background chatting on the phones as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening. Ridiculous! I could go on and on like this, but I think you get the picture.
Overall a terrible episode and possibly the worst of Season 3.
helpful•63
- rayoflite24
- Aug 21, 2015
Details
- Runtime1 hour
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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