Carry-On

Ethan Kopek, a TSA officer at Los Angeles International Airport, dreams of being a policeman. His girlfriend, Nora, who works for Northwind Airlines, encourages him to pursue his aspirations, leading him to seek a promotion at work.

Ethan is assigned to supervise the X-ray machine as part of a test run for a potential promotion. During this time, he encounters an earbud that seemingly belongs to a lost item, which will become pivotal to the events that follow.

Through the earbud, Ethan receives instructions from a mysterious figure known as The Traveler. He is coerced into allowing a passenger named Mateo to pass through security, or face dire consequences for Nora.

Ethan tries to reach out for help by calling the police and warns his colleague Lionel about the situation using invisible ink on a boarding pass. However, The Traveler's influence leads to Lionel suffering a fatal heart attack.

Struggling with guilt after Lionel's death, Ethan's co-worker Jason attempts to cover for him at work. Under pressure, Ethan sabotages Jason, leading to his dismissal, allowing him to comply with The Traveler's demands.

Ethan learns from The Traveler that a Novichok nerve agent is planned to be deployed on a Northwind flight. This alarming revelation intensifies his desperation to find a solution to save both Nora and the passengers.

LAPD detective Elena Cole becomes involved in an investigation regarding potential plans to utilize Novichok. As she navigates through the case, she uncovers Ethan's attempts to alert the authorities despite TSA's shutdown.

Ethan finds himself in a high-tension encounter with The Traveler in a bathroom. Despite being threatened, Ethan manages to briefly overpower The Traveler, but the situation escalates as a ticking clock looms over him.

Ethan discovers Mateo is also a victim of The Traveler's manipulation, with his husband being held captive. Their alliance is corrupted when the situation takes a deadly turn, leading to Mateo's tragic death during a struggle.

Ethan uses Mateo's phone to warn his colleague Eddie about the imminent nerve agent attack. Tensions rise as Eddie attempts to save Nora, leading to a confrontation with The Watcher, who is also pursuing Nora.

As the action unfolds, Cole realizes that The Traveler is targeting Congresswoman Grace Turner. A sinister plan is revealed: the defense contractors intend to blame an attack on her to influence an upcoming vote.

Ethan takes the bold step of volunteering to disarm the Novichok aboard a flight, facing off against The Traveler. Their tense standoff escalates as the aircraft readies for departure while Ethan races against time.

In a climactic moment, Ethan confronts The Traveler and successfully locks him away with the Novichok. This action effectively neutralizes the immediate threat, ensuring the safety of countless lives.

One year after the harrowing events, Ethan shares a peaceful moment with Nora and their child. They are seen at the airport, highlighting a return to normalcy as Ethan prepares for a new chapter in life.