From Luton to Laughs: The Original Story Behind Airplane! Comedy Classic

Arthur Hailey, a writer originally from Luton, England, is the creative mind behind the story that inspired the famous comedy film 'Airplane! '. Born in 1920, Hailey grew up in Luton and served as a reconnaissance pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War Two. After the war, he moved to Canada in the late 1940s, hoping to become a writer. However, he struggled to find success and worked as an editor for a trucking magazine. One day in 1955, while flying across Canada, Hailey imagined what would happen if both pilots on his flight became sick and he had to land the plane himself. He had not flown in years and only in small planes, but this idea sparked his creativity.

Hailey turned his idea into a live television play called 'Flight into Danger', which he sold to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The story follows a flight where passengers choose between salmon or lamb for dinner. Those who eat the salmon, including the pilots, suffer from food poisoning. With both pilots unable to fly, a former fighter pilot named George Spencer must take control of the plane, guided by a senior pilot on the ground. The stewardess, Janet, played by Corinne Conley, helps him. The play was broadcast live in April 1956 and became a huge hit. At first, the cast doubted Hailey's abilities because he had written truck commercials, but his play made him famous almost overnight. The play was praised as one of the most successful TV dramas ever, and it was later shown in Britain, where it was watched by a large audience and received high ratings.

The success of 'Flight into Danger' had a lasting impact. The play's producer, Sydney Newman, later became Head of Drama at the BBC, where he helped create other famous shows. Hailey went on to become a best-selling novelist, but he lost interest in TV writing when live drama ended. 'Flight into Danger' was adapted into several TV versions and a movie called 'Zero Hour! ' in 1957. In the 1970s, the creators of 'Airplane! ' saw 'Zero Hour! ' and decided to make a comedy version. David Zucker, one of the creators, praised Hailey's storytelling skills. Hailey enjoyed the parody and was happy that his story continued to entertain people. He said that if others could get more enjoyment from his work, he wished them good luck.