Jim Molnar (James Mason) watches as the news unfolds about two airplane bomb threats. He realizes he's been tricked into creating those bombs by ex-Army buddy Paul Hoplin (Rod Steiger), who is determined to extort half a million dollars from the airlines.
After kidnapping Jim, his wife, Joan (Inger Stevens), and their daughter, Paul forces Joan to go collect the money. While she's escorted by a thug (Neville Brand) across New York, Jim and his daughter are held hostage, fighting for their lives.