SST: Death Flight

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SST Death Flight is a 1977 made-for-TV movie produced by ABC Circle Films. It featured an all-star cast and was directed by David Lowell Rich, who went on to direct Airport '79. The film capitalizes on the smorgasbord of 1970s aircraft disaster films, this time with an SST that is not allowed to land because of an emergency.

The film premiered on February 25, 1977 on ABC and went into syndication. It was lampooned in 1989 by the characters of Mystery Science Theater 3000. The film is noted for its formulaic plot and its poor production values. For instance, it depicted an American SST as the first of its kind, and used a scale model of what was basically a Concorde with Boeing 747 turbofan engines attached. The special effects sequences were below-par, even for 1977.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

It's the maiden flight of America's first supersonic transport. Regis Philbin is a TV announcer covering the festivities. The jet is piloted by Robert Reed. Serving on board is steward Billy Crystal. Among the passengers is Bert Convy who talks about his ex-girlfriend, Doug McClure trying to woo Tina Louise. Lorne Greene stars as an on ground engineer. Peter Graves and Robert Ito also star as passengers.

Unfortunately, "repairs" by a disgruntled engineer annoyed with his boss (Burgess Meredith) cause a chemical tank to explode. This damages a deadly Senegal influenza shipment, and the plane is quarantined to the air.