Unfriendly Skies

Season 1, Episode 9, Aired
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Episode Summary

Grissom and his team investigate the death of a first class passenger on a flight to Las Vegas. The investigators are forced not only to examine the physical evidence, but also to interview all of the first class passengers to get their personal accounts of the incident.moreless
9.2
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Superb
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Fan Episode Reviews (19)

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  • After a first-class passenger is killed on a flight heading for Vegas, Grissom and his team must quickly gather statements and piece together evidence before they're forced to turn over the case to the FBI.moreless

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By texanpeach, Aug 24, 2010 Report Abuse
    UNFRIENDLY SKIES is one of my favorite episodes; in fact, it's the episode that got me into CSI to begin with. I loved the reenactment at the end, particularly Warrick and Nick's bickering and how everyone's role fit them. I also liked Grissom's "all of the above" metaphor, and the team's debate in the final scene really made me think. Personally, even though Grissom made a good point, I'm siding with Catherine. I don't have a kid, but if I did, his or her health and safety would be first in my mind. Barring that, though, I'm not sure how I would react in that situation, but I would like to think that I'd maybe try to find a solution that wasn't so final before resorting to the "other guy or me" situation. All in all, I'd rate it nine-and-a-half first-class passengers out of ten. ;)moreless

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  • Interesting episode

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By moonlightenvy, Jan 06, 2009 Report Abuse
    The CSI team must figure out how a man died mid flight and all the suspects are the witnesses. There is also some character development when the team is forced to evaluate how they would react if placed in the same situation. It makes you think about what you would do if someone on your flight began to act bizarre, and what the consequences could be. I liked how Grissom did not respond with a sure response placing himself in the same situation, stating that if the other passengers had asked if he was ok, or approached the man differently, the passenger would not have died.moreless

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  • Grissom and his team take on a case of a death on a plane

    9.2
    "Superb"
    By lsburton, Mar 20, 2008 Report Abuse
    This was an interesting episode. There were so many suspects with there own version of what happened on the plan. After investigating the suspects, it was still hard to determine what exactly had happened. I probably would have reacted the same way if I was on a plane and I felt as if my life was in danger. I don't think i would have tried to kill him though. That would have had to be the last resort. I felt bad for the guy at the end though because was actually sick, but you cant be acting crazy on a plane and think nobody will retaliate.moreless

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  • Murder on an airplane.

    9.6
    "Superb"
    By sid1157, Feb 12, 2008 Report Abuse
    OK this episode was pretty good. This guy was ganged up on and killed on a plane because they thought he wa trying to kill them all. I loved the scene where sara told grissom that she was part of the mile high club. The whole site your sorce scene was really really cute. I loved how catherine had to "attract them with honey" it was funny. I loved the ending of this episode where they were talking about weather they could do what the passengers on the plane did and Catherine and warrick said they could. And when they asked grissom he said that no one would have died if they would have just asked the guy if he was ok.moreless

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  • The entire CSI team is called into investigate the death of one of the passengers who died while the plane was in flight.

    9.4
    "Superb"
    By foxycsi, Aug 09, 2007 Report Abuse
    This episode, regardless of how many times I see it on DVD, stands out as one of the top 25 in my book. The script is well written, keeping the viewer guessing as to what exactly happened. There was comical relief interplayed in some of the scenes making it a very well rounded episode. The two most riveting scenes was when the team re-enacted the crime with each taking on a role as one of the possible suspects. Though the comedy of who would be who was entertaining to watch, the figuring out of what happened to the victim was very insightful and well done. With each based on evidence gathered and interviews attained, the CSI team was able to piece together the actual events. The viewer is able to see it play out thru great flashback of the actual passengers. One of the best scenes is when Sara pointed out to the team that the man if he died at the door of the plane dies at the door and not 5 feet away. This made it a crime and not self defense as indicated by the passengers. The other scene was at the very end when each member of the team spoke of what they would do if they were in that situation. But Grissom being Grissom pointed out when he was asked what he would do, stated what was never pondered by the others. And that was if only someone intervened on the part of the victim and identify thru his many symptoms the cause for his change in mentation,action, this whole episode could have been avoided. The GSR in this episode was also extremely funny and sweet with both Sara and Grissom exchanging information concerning the "mile high club". The scene was well done and tasteful. It was entertaining seeing each one show some reluctance in providing their own information on the subject and high intrigue of the others. All in all this is one of the best in this incredible show.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • Goof: Tony Candlewell's age is given as 30. One shot shows a close up of his drivers license which shows his date of birth as 06-18-75. This episode was from 2000, meaning he was only 25. Edit
    • Goof: Nick is walking up the steps behind Catherine, but when the camera switches to a longer shot, he hasn't even hit the first step yet. Edit
    • Sara Sidle claims that she could never take another's life. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • International Episode Titles: Czech Republic: Nepřátelská obloha (Unfriendly Skies) Edit
    • The plot of this episode parallels an event of four months earlier when 19-year-old Jonathan Burton stormed the cockpit door of Southwest Airlines Flight 1763 from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City on August 11, 2000. He was subdued by eight other passengers with such force that he died of asphyxiation. Edit

  • Quotes

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    • (Answering questions asked by Catherine) Flight Attendant: You know, I have seen it all. I've seen ferrets in suitcases... uh, fellatio in first class... Edit
    • Grissom: I want five of those passengers arrested for murder. Sheriff Mobley: Oh, that's four more than I anticipated. Grissom: We looked at the evidence, and the evidence says five. Sheriff Mobley: Let me get this straight. Five strangers get on a plane and then, together, they kill a man. Grissom: On the surface, self-defense. They thought Candlewell was bringing the plane down. Sheriff Mobley: And he would have. Grissom: But he didn't. They stopped him, and then they killed him -- not as individuals, but as a mob. Sheriff Mobley: Let's cut to the chase, Gil. Can you prove your case? Grissom: Not yet. I need more time. Sheriff Mobley: Well, time's up. I'm going to give these people their walking papers. If the Feds want to pursue it, let them. Grissom: Don't do that. Sheriff Mobley: Oh, come on. No jury's going to ever convict them. Grissom: You don't know that, Brian. Sheriff Mobley: Look, if you or I were on that plane we would do whatever it takes to save our lives. Grissom: That's what a jury would say. That's not what the evidence says. Sheriff Mobley: That's exactly my point. Edit
    • Sheriff Mobley: You've got a whale of an opportunity here, Gil. A dead body on an airplane. The FAA has jurisdiction, but the Feds won't be here till sunrise. That gives us 12 hours to be heroes. Grissom: I don't follow you. Sheriff Mobley: Well, we either hand over the guy who did it when the Feds get here, or we give them all the glory while we watch from the sidelines. Grissom: I don't even know if we have a homicide yet. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Episode Title: Unfriendly Skies The title of this episode is a play on the United Airlines advertising campaign (Fly The Friendly Skies)that started in 1969 and carried on for many years. Edit
    • (The team re-enacts the crime near the end of the episode) Grissom: We have 10 minutes...We're going to have to do a 'Run Lola Run' in real time. He is alluding to the 1999 film "Lola rennt" (in English, Run Lola Run). However, Lola and her boyfriend, Manni, have twenty minutes to complete their task. Edit

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