CAUTION: The following includes spoilers for episode 5 of the series Hijack. In this episode, titled "Less Than An Hour," significant revelations are unveiled, including the discovery of the hijackers' true affiliation. In the preceding four episodes, the intentions of the hijackers aboard Kingdom Airlines Flight 29 have remained unclear, as business negotiator Sam Nelson (portrayed by Idris Elba) struggles to neutralize the terrorist danger. However, in episode 5, it is revealed that the hijackers are not terrorists but rather members of a well-organized criminal syndicate. Their motive for orchestrating the hijacking is specifically targeted and carries potentially catastrophic consequences.
As there are only two episodes left of Hijack to be aired in the upcoming weeks, Sam and the other passengers will be compelled to participate in a plan devised by a highly influential organization, aiming to retrieve two crucial members. This evolving situation involves the involvement of multiple countries, including Iraq, Romania, and now Hungary. The magnitude of the threat aboard Kingdom Flight 29 is evident to senior members of the United Kingdom's government and security forces. The imminent danger aboard the aircraft becomes more pronounced as it nears English territory, with just 30 minutes remaining in this seven-part real-time miniseries. With this newfound knowledge, the UK Prime Minister must decide how to address the incoming airborne threat.
6 The Hijackers Work For An Organized Crime Group
In Hijack episode 5, it is revealed that the hijackers are not acting alone but are actually working under the orders of a dangerous criminal organization. This organization has threatened the lives of the hijackers and their families, forcing them to comply with their plans. The true antagonist in the episode is this powerful shadow organization, using the hijackers as pawns in their sinister plot. The organized crime group's objective is to make a significant statement, and they are not hesitant to take lives, as seen in previous episodes where cleaners were hired to eliminate witnesses. As the episode concludes, two armed cleaners manage to infiltrate Sam's home, posing a serious threat to his son Kai, who is unaware of the hijacking.
5 The Cheapside Firm Help Run An Illegal Trade Network
The local community is under the firm grip of an organized crime group known as the Cheapside Firm. Episode 5 of Hijack reveals their deep involvement in illicit trade and trafficking, particularly in the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and human beings, both into and out of England. With their control over secure entry points for illegal activities, it can be inferred that the Cheapside Firm wields substantial power and wealth within various black markets. Although the exact connection between the Cheapside Firm and Kingdom Flight 29 remains unclear, their orchestration of the hijacking is intended to recover two of their most notorious members.
4 Stuart & Lewis Are Biological Brothers
It is revealed that two of the hijackers on Kingdom Flight 29 are biological brothers, Stuart and Lewis Atterton. Despite Stuart's attempts to conceal their relationship, Sam cleverly deduces their connection and convinces Stuart to land the plane for Lewis's urgent medical attention. By tugging at Stuart's heartstrings, Sam manipulates him once again. Unfortunately, when Lewis passes away, Sam's plan is foiled, and the emergency landing in Budapest is never executed.
3 Jamie & Lewis Have A Romantic History
2 Terry Was Ordered To Kill Lewis & Stuart's Father
It is also revealed that Lewis and Jamie, the only female hijacker, previously had a romantic relationship. When Stuart reminds Jamie of this to persuade her that landing the plane in Budapest was a wise decision, Jamie dismisses her connection with Lewis, stating that their romantic involvement was ultimately insignificant. Stuart admits to Jamie that his brother's interest in her meant a great deal to him, but Jamie remains uninterested. Even when Lewis tragically passes away at the end of Hijack episode 5, Jamie appears mostly unaffected, suggesting that her true feelings for Lewis were not very profound.
In Lewis's final moments, Terry confesses to him that he is responsible for the death of Lewis's father, Peter Atterton. Terry reveals that he had no choice but to commit the act, as the Cheapside Firm had threatened to harm his own family if he didn't comply. This revelation deeply affects Sam, as he finally grasps the gravity of the situation involving the organized crime group. Sadly, Lewis is unable to offer a substantial response, as he struggles to breathe and cling to life. Despite this, Sam realizes that Terry's confession is pivotal, as it presents an opportunity to alter their course of action. Sam persuades Stuart not to proceed with their original plan of landing in Budapest, as he understands that deviating from it could potentially save his family from the relentless pursuit of the Cheapside Firm. Therefore, it becomes crucial to stick to the original plan, as any deviation could endanger their safety.
1 The Reason For The Hijacking Is Revealed
In Hijack episode 5, the motive behind the hijacking is finally revealed. A well-organized criminal group is demanding the freedom of Edgar Janssen and John Bailey Brown, both members of the Cheapside Firm who are currently serving lengthy prison terms of 35 years. In order to achieve their goal, the group threatens London with a potential terrorist attack or, at the very least, the fatalities of all passengers aboard Kingdom Flight 29. Sam, now gripped with fear that his involvement may endanger his own family's lives, realizes that the fate of the plane's passengers rests solely on the response of the UK government in the upcoming episode of Hijack.