Holding Pattern (Quincy, M.E.)
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Episode Quote
"If they’re infected—and dying—every second counts, not negotiations."
― Dr. Quincy, Holding Pattern
Episode Overview
Holding Pattern aired on NBC on November 4, 1977. The episode centers on a hijacked airliner at LAX, where Quincy discovers the dead passenger died from a dangerous virus that may have spread to crew and hijackers. He must convince negotiators and hijackers to act swiftly despite political and security barriers. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Table of Contents
Application of The QME Episode Laws
✅ **Law 1 – Seek truth and justice:** Quincy determines the cause of death and potential epidemic, prioritizing truth over politics and public relations. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
✅ **Law 2 – Explore social/ethical issues:** The story highlights public health ethics amid terrorism, interrogation of bureaucratic inertia, and the moral obligation to act during bio-threats.
✅ **Law 3 – Handle controversy sensitively:** The biothreat scenario is treated seriously, with Quincy advocating for scientific intervention rather than political posturing. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
✅ **Law 4 – Maintain scientific accuracy:** Autopsy reveals natural viral infection. Quincy uses his medical expertise to assess infection risk and urgency, reflecting forensic responsibility. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Together, these elements illustrate *Quincy, M.E.*’s blend of forensic precision and compassionate social commentary.
Episode Synopsis
A hijacked plane lands at LAX, and the hijackers claim one passenger died of natural causes. Quincy’s examination reveals a dangerous virus. Realizing the grave public health threat, he presses negotiators and hijackers to allow medical teams aboard before a potential outbreak devastates those on board.
Plot Summary
A hijacked aircraft arrives at LAX with an assumed natural-death victim onboard. Quincy examines the body and identifies a deadly virus, triggering alarm. Bureaucratic hesitation impedes action, but Quincy secures partial access. He confronts the lead negotiator (Gerald O’Loughlin), arguing quarantine and treatment override standard hostage protocol. The hijackers relent; medical teams board, preventing catastrophe.
← *Tissue of Truth* • **Holding Pattern** • *Main Man* Season 3 Overview: Full Episode List :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Main Cast
- **Jack Klugman** as Dr. R. Quincy
- **Robert Ito** as Sam Fujiyama
- **Garry Walberg** as Lt. Monahan
- **John S. Ragin** as Dr. Asten
Guest Cast
- **Gerald S. O’Loughlin** as Hostage Negotiator
- **Madison Mason** (role unspecified)
- **Joseph Roman** as Sgt. Brill
Case File Summary
- Victim:** Unidentified hijacked passenger
- Case #:** LACC 77.11.300
Cause of death: viral infection. Quincy’s finding triggered emergency bio-response and possibly averted mass casualties.
Additional Victims
Potential victims among passengers, crew, and hijackers if the virus spread.
Alleged Perpetrators
No homicide—biothreat derived from natural illness, though hijackers complicated response.
Filming Locations and Exterior Footage
Merged LAX exterior scenes with studio sets to portray a believable hijack crisis. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Forensic Science Insight
- **Viral autopsy** — distinguishes natural causes from foul play.
- **Infection control urgency** — illustrates forensic epidemiology in crisis.
Themes & Tropes
- **Biothreat & public health**
- **Science vs. bureaucracy**
- **Moral responsibility under threat**
- **Tension: science over politics**
Reception & Ratings
IMDb score: **6.7/10** from 1,104 ratings. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7} Fan rankings place it as one of Quincy’s top episodes (SeriesWithSophie #1). :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Critic & Fan Commentary
> “Classic Quincy.” — IMDb featured review :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9} > “A pretty dumb episode… a definite dud.” — another IMDb reviewer :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Trivia
- The aircraft featured is a Convair 880—once flown by Japan Airlines; later scrapped in Puerto Rico. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
- Goof included runway naming errors inconsistent with actual LAX runway designations. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
Cultural Impact
One of the series’ earliest explorations of infectious disease in a hostage situation, prefiguring later forensic dramas focused on epidemiology and crisis medicine.
See Also
- Quincy, M.E.
- List of Quincy, M.E. episodes
- Biological threats in fiction
- Forensic pathology
- 1977 in television