The Aviator

Edgar Anscombe is an instructor at a US Army Air Corps flying school in 1918. During a landing attempt, the aircraft crashes into flames. The trainee is killed, while Edgar survives and begins to cope with the tragedy.

Ten years later, Edgar is a Contract Air Mail pilot on the CAM-5 route between Elko, Nevada and Pasco, Washington. He is asked to take a passenger, Tillie Hansen, a move that unsettles him because his last passenger was the doomed trainee. The trip sets up a tense dynamic between the two travelers.

During the stopover in Boise, Idaho, Edgar's friend Jerry changes the oil lines on the engine but doesn't recheck his work after a call. This lapse foreshadows the mechanical trouble that will plague the flight. Tillie remains wary and challenges Edgar, keeping the tension alive.

When they resume, Edgar decides to take a shortcut over the mountains, deviating from the normal CAM-5 route. The engine immediately loses oil pressure and fails, forcing a crash landing on a remote ridge. The survivors are forced to confront the dangerous wilderness.

Tillie blames Edgar for stranding them and he retorts by calling her a jinx. The argument underscores their strained rapport as they face a survival ordeal together. The tension gradually shifts as they realize their fates depend on each other.

That night, Tillie accidentally blows up the wreckage with a cigarette. The explosion marks a turning point, softening Edgar's anger and allowing some mutual understanding to grow. They begin to see the other in a less hostile light.

The following day, Edgar goes hunting and shoots a rabbit, but is attacked by a pack of wolves. The wolves steal the rabbit and badly injure Edgar's arm. Tillie patches the wound and helps keep him alive.

With danger from the wolves and no usable aircraft, they decide to climb down to the canyon below. The descent is perilous and requires cooperation as they navigate rock ledges and exposure. Their stubborn endurance forges a deeper bond.

A search aircraft flies overhead to signal rescuers, but Tillie slips on the cliff and breaks her leg, forcing them to endure another night on the exposed ledge. The shared danger draws them closer as they rely on each other for warmth and hope. They begin to acknowledge their growing affection.

The next day, Edgar carries Tillie down to the canyon floor and fashions a travois to haul her to safety. As they move, Tillie spots nearby telephone lines that might guide the rescuers. Edgar remains focused on keeping her safe.

Edgar goes off to investigate the telephone lines, leaving Tillie with his revolver. A rescue aircraft closes in on their location, heightening the hope that they will be saved. The dynamic shifts again as trust and dependency deepen.

A rescue plane locates the crash site but cannot land immediately. Edgar is attacked by a wolf near the clearing; Tillie crawls out from the travois and shoots the wolf, saving his life. The rescuers fly overhead, yet are unable to help them at that moment. Finally, Edgar and Tillie are rescued, with the film hinting at a developing romance.