Theodore Honey, a metallurgist working for the Royal Aircraft Establishment, develops a theory on metal fatigue His research has convinced him that the tail of a new plane, the Reindeer, will fail at about 1440 hour flying time - but he speaks with equal conviction of the Second Coming of Christ to Glastonbury He is sent to Newfoundland to investigate the mysterious crash of a Reindeer and find the lost tail section to prove his theory On his trip he finds out he is flying on a Reindeer Can this brilliant scientist convince others that this fatal flaw will decide the fate of everyone on board?