First Look at ‘In Flight’: Katherine Kelly Leads New High-Stakes Crime Drama

Images Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

The first images have landed for In Flight, a six-part crime-thriller that centres on a flight attendant pulled into the dark world of drug smuggling after her son is arrested for a murder in Bulgaria. With his life hanging in the balance and time against her, she is forced to become something she never imagined.

The series is set to launch later this year and comes from Buccaneer Media, the production company behind Marcella, The Crow Girl and The Burning Girls. It is written and co-created by Mike Walden, known for his work on Marcella and Whitstable Pearl, and Adam Randall, whose credits include Slow Horses and iBoy. Brendan Mullin, who previously worked on Wreck and Dalgliesh, is producing. Direction comes from Chris Baugh, who also helmed Wreck and Tin Star.

Katherine Kelly takes the lead as Jo Conran, a single mum and flight attendant whose life is thrown into chaos when her son, Sonny, is imprisoned overseas. He insists he is innocent. Desperate to keep him alive, Jo is blackmailed by a criminal gang who use her airline access to move narcotics across borders. Stuart Martin appears as Cormac, a key figure in the gang, and Ashley Thomas plays Dom Delaney, Jo's ex and a customs officer she turns to when she runs out of options.

The story is grounded in international travel but also dives headfirst into a tense, emotional narrative about loyalty, fear and survival. The series leans into its jet-setting premise, taking viewers to cities like Bangkok, Istanbul, and London, while also including scenes in Bulgaria where much of the story's urgency unfolds. Filming wrapped earlier this year in Belfast, with support from Northern Ireland Screen.

Supporting roles come from Bronagh Waugh as Melanie, Corinna Brown as Kayla, Ambreen Razia as Zara, and Harry Cadby as Jo's son Sonny.

While Jo's old life starts slipping away, the danger closes in and the stakes rise fast. Every decision she makes is tied to the single goal of keeping her son alive, even if it means crossing every line in the process. Caught between the demands of the gang and the suspicion of law enforcement, Jo is thrust into a world of deadly choices with no clear exit.

Behind the scenes, the series has strong backing. Executive producers include Anna Burns, Richard Tulk-Hart and Tony Wood for Buccaneer, Rebecca Dundon and Simon Judd for Fremantle, as well as Walden, Randall, Kelly and Baugh.

International broadcasters are already on board, with Germany's ProSieben, SBS in Australia and TVNZ in New Zealand securing early rights. Fremantle is handling distribution globally.

In Flight looks set to deliver a gripping blend of personal drama and international crime, all viewed through the eyes of a woman whose life changes at 30,000 feet.