I don't know if "Unscheduled Departure" was the best title, because this installment of Pan Am featured more of an unscheduled landing that got the crew into trouble, but it was an interesting episode that showed the heart of all of our characters.

It's always fun to dig into the regulars and the guest stars in a tense situation, just to see what they're made of.

Hurricane Ginny has nothing on Haitian society!
When sweet passenger Henry has a heart attack, the flight stops in Port-Au-Prince to try to find medical attention. The hurricane did a job on the runway, but it was guerrillas who were ripping the heart out of Haiti. Not much has changed. Ted and Colette paid off some locals for a jeep to get to a doctor, but all he could provide was one nitroglycerine pill.

Much to Ted's dismay, Colette has promised asylum to a local girl who's family was butchered. Ted has become the comic relief of the team. His rambling about what America should have done in Haiti and that pink flamingos bite were the perfect nervous responses to their situation. Michael Mosley can work a scene with any actor to perfection.

Grounded
The hurricane made a mess of the runway, leaving it 500 feet short for a 707 to lift off. It would be pretty frightening, as a passenger, to know that every pound counted for the plane to take off from a war-ravaged country. Some of the passengers took it with sarcastic humor (Do you want us to push?), while others were nasty and undignified.

The handsome guest star playing Mr. Ortiz had grand bravado, but little Maggie cut him down to size when two armed gunmen came aboard and he almost lost it. Laura, speaking French, learned the men were just hungry. It's hard to tell who is who when you don't know the area, but it sure doesn't hurt to ask before jumping to conclusions.

It didn't help that Sanjeev was on vacation and the pilots were saddled with a smart aleck who wasn't interested in their MacGyver way of staying in the air. Or getting in the air. It was pretty tense as the guerrillas pulled up to the aircraft and they took off. But our trusty crew came through again. Dean and Ted made quite the team,. The former has clearly earned the latter's respect. 

Dog eat dog
Well, they didn't exactly start devouring their own, but when it came time to decide what stayed on the plane and what was left behind, Kate made a decision for the late Henry. His desire for his trip to Caracas was to help others. Kate knew if he could make it himself, her decision would stand. They would leave his body behind and take the Haitian girl in his place.

Kate finally had an opportunity to call in one of the many favors Richard owes her, and he promised to get a foster home and passport for the girl they rescued. Meanwhile, the stewardesses covered for each other and none of them were held accountable for the difficult choices made during their uncommon experience.

One question arose from this episode: What did that kiss between Colette and Dean mean to their future working relationship? All I know is we have to wait until December 4 to find out anything! Until then, keep your seat belt buckled.

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.