Sean McNamara directs this incredible true story, On A Wing and A Prayer. A family’s faith and survival come head to head as a group of strangers unite in a life-saving race against time.
McNamara’s other credits include faith-based films Soul Surfer and The Miracle Season. His familiarity with spiritual phenomena brings an inspiring battle against the odds of saving the lives of a family.
Doug, played by Dennis Quaid, has to fly a plane without the knowledge or experience to save himself and his family. He discovers the miracles that simple faith can achieve.
Doug and Terri White, played by Heather Graham, and their two daughters, played by Jessi Case and Abigail Rhyne, lead an ideal life in their small town. They are deeply involved in community and church affairs.
Doug and his brother, played by Brett Rice, look forward to the town’s annual barbecue cook-off, where they handily take home first place, distributing the leftovers to the homeless afterward.
When his brother unexpectedly dies, the grieving family travels to Florida for his funeral. Shaken by his brother’s death, Doug questions his long-held faith, distressing Terri, who urges him to hold fast to their beliefs.
After an emotional service, the family boards a private plane to take them home to Louisiana. But within a few minutes of takeoff, disaster strikes. Their pilot suffers a fatal heart attack.
Despite having no experience flying the twin-engine Beechcraft Super King Air 200, Doug has to take control of the aircraft and try to guide it to a nearby landing strip. Rough weather rolls in as he frantically contacts air traffic control for guidance, with Terri as co-pilot.
They put their faith at the forefront. The couple is unaware that officials on the ground are already sending ambulances and emergency vehicles to the tarmac, anticipating the worst.
With time running out, an aspiring air traffic controller breaks protocol and contacts experienced pilot Corey, played by Jesse Metcalfe.
Corey contacts Doug directly from his Connecticut home and provides step-by-step advice as Doug struggles to save his family from seemingly inevitable tragedy. If anyone is to survive, it’s going to take a miracle.