Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771

Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771

Year: 1993

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Roger Young

DramaTV Movie

Lost somewhere over the Pacific in a single-engine Cessna with low fuel, a pilot (Scott Bakula) awaits rescue.

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Timeline & Setting – Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771 (1993)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771 (1993). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Nadi, Fiji, Honolulu, Hawaii, Pago Pago, American Samoa, Norfolk Island, Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand

The action moves through a chain of Pacific waypoints—from Fiji's Nadi to Honolulu, Pago Pago, and Norfolk Island before a final hop to Sydney. The journey creates a backdrop of far-flung locations linked by aviation, with the ocean and weather playing a persistent role. The eventual rescue setting sits off the coast of New Zealand, anchoring the story in its maritime environment.

🏝️ Island-hopping ✈️ Long-haul 🌊 Ocean crossing

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:42

Main Characters – Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771 (1993)

Meet the key characters of Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771 (1993), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jay Parkins (Scott Bakula)

Headstrong yet capable, Jay is a skilled crop-duster pilot who chases a lucrative job despite safety concerns. His decision to press on with a long-haul crossing reveals a willingness to take risks for his family’s future. As the fuel dwindles and the radio goes silent, he must rely on training, grit, and inner resolve to survive. The ordeal tests his judgment and redefines his priorities.

🛩️ Pilot 🧭 Risk-taker

Frank (Alan Fletcher)

Jay's fellow pilot; brash and confident, he pushes for the big payout despite warnings. He embodies danger-seeking camaraderie and presses forward with the flight because of the promised reward. His attitude underscores the moral cost of risk when disaster follows, and his presence amplifies the tension of the journey.

🛩️ Co-pilot 🔥 Daredevil

Ellen (Rebecca Rigg)

Jay's wife, anxious yet practical. She opposes the dangerous assignment but supports her husband despite the risk. Her emotional arc centers on the stakes for family, patience during fear, and the hope for a safe return.

👩 Wife 💔 Anxiety

Gordon Vette (Robert Loggia)

Senior Air New Zealand pilot who becomes a crisis navigator. He demonstrates leadership, initiative, and improvisation as he attempts to locate Jay and coordinate a rescue. His conduct highlights the human element of search-and-rescue and the pressure of steering a large aircraft in a life-or-death scenario.

🧭 Leader 🛫 Rescue

1st Officer (Mike Bishop)

The co-pilot on Flight 771, providing support and stability under pressure. He shares the workload and the danger, helping to keep the mission focused as uncertainty surrounds the flight.

🧭 Co-pilot 🤝 Loyal

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:42

Major Themes – Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771 (1993)

Explore the central themes of Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771 (1993), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧭 Survival under pressure

A lone pilot must navigate with a broken navigation aid and dwindling fuel. The film builds tension around decisions that could cost lives, highlighting improvisation, discipline, and courage. It examines how ambition and financial incentives collide with the instinct to survive.

❤️ Family and duty

Ellen's worry provides emotional counterweight to the professional danger. The story explores the toll of dangerous work on families awaiting news. The rescue mission ultimately serves as a test of love, loyalty, and hope.

✈️ Aviation safety

Technology and human skill are tested when the ADF fails mid-flight and search-and-rescue operations stretch over long distances. The film presents the fragility of equipment and the grit required to survive at sea. It contrasts routine flight with extraordinary perseverance.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:42

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Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771 Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771 Summary

Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771 Timeline

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Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771 Timeline

More About Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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