Missing in Flight Summary, Characters and Themes

Missing in Flight by Audrey J. Cole is a gripping thriller that takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster as a mother fights against time and the unthinkable to find her missing child.

Set aboard a plane, this novel explores the depths of maternal love, the terror of losing a loved one, and the strength it takes to face an unimaginable crisis.  With a central mystery that delves into the emotional toll of a child’s disappearance and the complexities of relationships, this story is both a psychological exploration and a heart-pounding search for answers.

Summary

Makayla Rossi is a new mother traveling with her infant son, Liam, from Alaska to New York when her worst nightmare comes true.  After a brief visit to the bathroom, she returns to her seat only to find her baby missing from the bassinet.

Desperate and frantic, she begins searching the plane, asking passengers and crew members if they’ve seen Liam.  The flight attendants inform her that the entire aircraft has been searched, but there is no sign of her child.

Makayla begins to fear the worst—someone on the plane has kidnapped her son.

As Makayla’s panic grows, she meets Anna, a seasoned flight crew member, who is also impacted by the situation.  Anna reflects on her own struggles and growing concerns about the lack of air marshal presence on the flight.

Meanwhile, the situation takes a darker turn when the FBI is called in to investigate.  Tina, an FBI agent, uncovers details about Makayla’s background, including her famous mother, Lydia Banks, whose tragic death seems to tie into the investigation.

The search for Liam intensifies, and Makayla’s anguish becomes palpable as she realizes the severity of the situation.

By Chapter 8, Makayla is in full-blown panic mode.  Despite the flight attendants’ reassurances, she refuses to accept that Liam is truly missing.

She begins to suspect that someone on board, including a young woman who had been asked to watch Liam, might be involved in the disappearance.  As Makayla’s desperation escalates, she starts reaching out to her husband Jack, and their conversations about the kidnapping reveal the emotional toll the situation is having on her.

In the meantime, the FBI continues its investigation into Makayla’s family background, uncovering information that could potentially shed light on why Liam was targeted.  The FBI begins questioning Makayla’s personal connections, including her interactions with a woman named Cori, whom Makayla met through a mother’s group.

Makayla grows increasingly concerned that their social media posts may have made them targets for ransom.

As the hours drag on, Makayla faces more obstacles and growing anxiety.  She continues to search the plane, even attempting to inspect fellow passengers’ luggage and confronting flight attendants for their lack of urgency.

The flight crew’s dismissive attitude only deepens her sense of helplessness, and she begins to feel as though no one believes her or is taking her seriously.  At this point, Makayla suspects that she might be running out of time to find Liam, and her emotional and physical exhaustion are beginning to take a toll.

In later chapters, the stakes heighten when Makayla begins to suspect that a flight attendant named Derek could be involved in the disappearance.  She also suspects a woman named Rose, who had caused a distraction earlier, might be linked to the kidnapping.

However, her search proves fruitless as she encounters nothing but more dead ends.  The FBI’s investigation uncovers that the kidnappers had used a fake ID and parachutes to execute their plan, leaving Makayla with the devastating realization that she had unknowingly provided the kidnappers with crucial information.

Makayla’s physical and emotional pain worsens as she struggles to stay focused on the search for Liam.  With her migraine growing worse, she begins to question everyone around her, convinced that someone is hiding her son.

In the midst of the chaos, the plane experiences a terrifying emergency landing.  Makayla’s panic intensifies as the reality of the situation hits her.

She is still clinging to the hope that Liam could somehow be alive, but the thought of the plane’s damaged state and the potential for kidnappers to have exited the plane only deepens her fear.

During the chaotic moments before the emergency landing, Makayla is thrown around in her seat as the plane descends rapidly.  Flight attendants work frantically to secure the passengers, and Makayla’s anxiety peaks as she wonders whether Liam survived.

As the plane crashes twice, Makayla holds onto the hope that she will be reunited with her son, though her fear and dread seem overwhelming.

After the plane safely lands, Makayla’s fear remains as she is escorted to a waiting area while the authorities continue their investigation.  The suspense builds as Makayla waits for any updates on her son’s fate.

During this time, Makayla reflects on her strained relationship with Cori, suspecting that her so-called friend may have been involved in orchestrating the kidnapping.

In a shocking twist, the FBI eventually reveals that Liam has been found alive.  Although heavily sedated, he was discovered in a truck with one of the abductors.

The investigation uncovers how the kidnappers carried out their plan, including the use of parachutes and fake IDs.  The news that Liam is alive brings a sense of relief, but Makayla is left to process the trauma of what has transpired and the personal betrayal she’s endured.

By the final chapters, Makayla and her husband, Jack, begin to heal from the ordeal.  Jack admits to his past mistakes, and the couple reflects on their relationship, finding hope for the future.

They finally reunite with Liam, who is recovering at the hospital.  Though the scars of the experience will stay with them, they are grateful to have their son back.

The story concludes on a note of healing and reflection as Makayla and Jack take Liam home, grateful for the time they now have together.

Through suspense, emotional depth, and a heart-stopping mystery, Missing in Flight explores the fear of losing a child, the complexities of relationships, and the resilience required to survive a traumatic experience.

Characters

Makayla Rossi

Makayla Rossi, the central figure in Missing in Flight, is a woman whose life takes a devastating turn when her infant son, Liam, disappears on a flight.  As a new mother, her character is defined by her profound love and protective instinct for her child.

From the moment Liam vanishes, Makayla is engulfed in a wave of panic, which drives her to search frantically through the plane, questioning everyone around her and doubting the very people who should be offering support.  Her emotions swing between desperation, frustration, and intense fear as she wrestles with the helplessness of being unable to protect her son.

Her actions throughout the story are driven by her maternal instinct, which is magnified by her growing suspicions about the people around her.  As the narrative unfolds, Makayla’s sense of isolation deepens, with each failed attempt to find Liam further wearing down her resolve.

Her personal struggles are compounded by her migraine and the exhausting mental toll the search takes on her.  The emotional weight of her journey is central to the story, as she confronts her own vulnerabilities and begins to question her relationships, particularly with her husband, Jack, and her friend, Cori.

Her determination to find Liam, despite all obstacles, forms the heart of the narrative, revealing both her strength and her fragility.

Jack Rossi

Jack Rossi, Makayla’s husband, plays a crucial yet supporting role in Missing in Flight.  Though he is not physically present during the critical moments of Liam’s disappearance, his presence is felt through Makayla’s interactions with him, particularly through their text exchanges.

Jack is portrayed as a well-meaning but somewhat passive figure, often appearing distant in his emotional response to the crisis.  His concerns about Cori, Makayla’s friend, and his insistence on questioning her about her connections reveal his own insecurities and fears about the situation.

However, his involvement in the story is more reflective of the strain the crisis places on their relationship.  As Makayla’s search intensifies, Jack’s role shifts from a concerned husband to a more passive bystander, unable to offer Makayla the reassurance or support she desperately needs.

His emotional detachment contrasts sharply with Makayla’s frantic behavior, and as the couple begins to recover from the ordeal, Jack’s reflections on his past mistakes, particularly with Sabrina, show his potential for growth and understanding.

Anna

Anna is a seasoned pilot who also finds herself caught in the chaos of the missing child situation.  Her character in Missing in Flight is defined by a mix of professional competence and personal turmoil.

As a pilot, she is calm and composed, focused on her duties as the crisis unfolds around her.  However, Anna’s internal conflict adds depth to her character, revealing the emotional strain of her deteriorating marriage.

Her thoughts on the situation with the missing child are tinged with a sense of helplessness, as she realizes the gravity of the situation and the lack of support for Makayla.  Anna’s personal struggles with infidelity also come to the forefront, particularly as the emergency flight situation forces her to reevaluate her decisions and life choices.

Through her reflections and interactions with Miguel, Anna becomes a mirror to the emotional and moral decisions that the other characters are grappling with.  She is an empathetic figure, acutely aware of the pressure and challenges involved in dealing with a crisis, but her inability to affect the outcome leaves her feeling conflicted and uncertain about her role in the larger picture.

Tina

Tina, the FBI agent brought in to investigate Liam’s disappearance, is a methodical and determined character whose focus on the investigation mirrors Makayla’s frantic quest for answers.  While Tina is more composed and analytical, her internal struggles connect her to Makayla’s journey in unexpected ways.

Tina’s personal connection to the case, as she uncovers details about Makayla’s family and her tragic past, helps to humanize her character, giving her motivations depth beyond professional duty.  As Tina delves deeper into the case, her reflection on her own life, especially her connection to Makayla’s mother’s death, makes her more empathetic to Makayla’s pain.

She is driven by a sense of justice and a desire to uncover the truth, but the deeper she goes into the investigation, the more she begins to understand the complex emotional terrain that the Rossi family is navigating.  Tina’s involvement in the case shifts from an outsider to someone personally invested in the outcome, and her character provides a necessary contrast to the emotional chaos of Makayla’s world.

Cori

Cori, initially introduced as Makayla’s friend from a mother’s group, emerges as one of the more complex and morally ambiguous characters in Missing in Flight.  Throughout much of the story, Cori’s presence is more of an off-stage influence, as Makayla begins to question her role in Liam’s disappearance.

Cori’s connection to the abduction adds a layer of betrayal and shock to the narrative, as Makayla uncovers the truth about her supposed friend’s involvement in orchestrating the kidnapping.  Cori represents the theme of deception, and her actions force Makayla to confront the painful reality of betrayal from someone she trusted.

While her motivations are gradually revealed through the investigation, Cori’s role in the plot serves as a reminder of the hidden dangers that can lurk within personal relationships, especially when complicated by financial motives or desperation.  Her character is emblematic of how outwardly trustworthy individuals can harbor dark secrets, and the gradual unveiling of her role in the kidnapping adds tension and mystery to the plot.

Miguel

Miguel is a flight crew member who plays a supporting role in Missing in Flight.  His interactions with Anna provide a sense of calm and professionalism amidst the emotional chaos of the flight.

As Anna’s co-pilot, Miguel is a steady presence, helping to manage the technical aspects of the emergency landing.  However, his role extends beyond the practical, as he becomes a sounding board for Anna’s personal reflections on her marriage and her life decisions.

Miguel’s character is more passive compared to Anna’s, yet his quiet support serves as an anchor for her during the most intense moments of the flight.  Through his conversations with Anna, Miguel represents the unspoken support systems that help individuals navigate crises, even if those systems are not overtly dramatic.

His role, though minor, serves to highlight the collaborative effort required in times of crisis, reinforcing the theme of teamwork and resilience.

Themes

Motherhood and Protectiveness

Missing in Flight explores the overwhelming emotions and instincts tied to motherhood, particularly the fierce desire to protect one’s child at all costs.  Makayla Rossi, the protagonist, is thrust into an unimaginable situation when her infant son, Liam, goes missing during a flight.

This theme is portrayed through Makayla’s relentless pursuit to find her son, even in the face of overwhelming obstacles and skepticism from those around her.  The deep love she has for Liam drives her actions, pushing her to go to extreme lengths to uncover the truth, from confronting flight attendants to searching through luggage.

This theme highlights the vulnerability of being a mother, where the safety and well-being of a child become paramount, and the emotional turmoil that ensues when that safety is threatened.  The fear and desperation Makayla experiences are exacerbated by her helplessness, as the people who should be assisting her in her search seem indifferent or dismissive.

In the absence of clear answers, her maternal instincts take center stage, showcasing the lengths a mother will go to for her child’s safety, and the profound emotional cost that comes with that pursuit.  This theme underscores the tension between instinct and reason, with Makayla caught in a continuous struggle to reconcile her protective urge with the chaos of the situation.

Loss and Trauma

The theme of loss and trauma runs throughout Missing in Flight, serving as a backdrop for much of the characters’ emotional journeys.  From the moment Liam goes missing, Makayla’s life is thrown into a whirlwind of fear, confusion, and disbelief, causing her to spiral into a state of emotional and psychological distress.

The uncertainty surrounding her son’s fate brings out the rawness of her grief, and this loss is compounded by the helplessness she feels in not being able to protect him.  As the story progresses, the emotional toll of this loss extends beyond Makayla, as other characters, like Anna and Tina, experience their own forms of loss and emotional struggles.

Anna, for example, is dealing with a deteriorating marriage, and Tina is haunted by her connection to Makayla’s mother’s tragic past.  Loss in the novel is not only about physical separation but also about the psychological scars that linger long after the event.

Makayla’s frantic search for her son is symbolic of the lengths people go to, emotionally and physically, when they are faced with the possibility of an irreparable loss.  The trauma inflicted on the characters is deep and far-reaching, highlighting how the search for a loved one can transform into a journey of confronting one’s darkest fears, unresolved issues, and past wounds.

In the end, while Makayla’s trauma is alleviated by the return of Liam, the scars of the experience remain, reflecting the lasting impact of such a traumatic event.

Trust and Betrayal

Throughout Missing in Flight, the theme of trust and betrayal plays a crucial role in shaping the characters’ actions and relationships.  From the very beginning, Makayla’s trust in others is shaken when she suspects that someone aboard the flight may have taken her son.

Her paranoia intensifies as she scrutinizes the behavior of passengers, flight attendants, and even her husband, Jack, who seems distant and preoccupied with his own suspicions.  The betrayal of her trust becomes more pronounced when it is revealed that Cori, a friend she had confided in, is involved in the abduction of her son.

This personal betrayal cuts deep, as Makayla’s perception of the people she thought she could trust crumbles.  The theme of betrayal extends beyond personal relationships and into the realm of security and safety, with Makayla questioning the competency and motives of the flight attendants and the FBI.

In her vulnerable state, the lines between who is trustworthy and who is not become increasingly blurred.  The emotional complexity of trust and betrayal is evident in the way characters like Anna and Tina reflect on their own personal relationships.

The novel paints a picture of the fragility of trust, especially in a crisis, and how betrayal can erode one’s sense of security and control.  The eventual revelation of Cori’s role in the kidnapping not only exposes the depth of the betrayal but also underscores the devastating emotional cost it has on Makayla.

The theme reveals that trust, once broken, is difficult to repair, and the emotional fallout can be far-reaching.

Justice and the Search for Truth

The search for justice and the relentless pursuit of truth are central themes in Missing in Flight, particularly through the character of Tina, the FBI agent.  As the investigation into Liam’s disappearance intensifies, Tina’s role as an investigator serves as a catalyst for revealing the layers of deceit and manipulation that surround the case.

Her professional approach contrasts sharply with Makayla’s emotional and frantic search, providing a more structured and methodical approach to uncovering the truth.  However, the novel shows that the pursuit of justice is not always straightforward.

It is marked by frustration, false leads, and moments of doubt.  Makayla’s personal journey, filled with emotional highs and lows, parallels Tina’s methodical investigation, both striving to uncover the truth about Liam’s whereabouts and the motives behind his kidnapping.

The theme of justice is complicated by the ethical dilemmas faced by the characters, such as the role of social media and personal relationships in the crime.  As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that justice is not only about finding the perpetrator but also about understanding the motivations and consequences of those actions.

The theme underscores the complexity of justice, where the search for truth requires more than just uncovering facts—it demands confronting uncomfortable truths about people’s choices, vulnerabilities, and betrayals.

Isolation and Desperation

Makayla’s journey in Missing in Flight is defined by a deep sense of isolation and desperation.  The physical and emotional toll of searching for her missing son on a plane with no real answers leaves her feeling increasingly cut off from those around her.

Her isolation is exacerbated by the disbelief and dismissal from the flight crew and passengers, who fail to comprehend the depth of her anxiety.  This emotional isolation creates a sense of helplessness, as Makayla becomes more desperate to find her son but is met with resistance at every turn.

The lack of support from others intensifies her feelings of abandonment and intensifies her determination to act independently.  As the hours pass, Makayla’s desperation reaches a peak, marked by her increasingly erratic behavior as she tries to search the plane and confront those she suspects may be involved.

The theme of isolation extends beyond the literal plane journey and symbolizes the emotional distance that Makayla feels from her husband and others around her.  Her isolation becomes a mental and emotional prison, where the urgency of the situation forces her to grapple with both internal and external pressures.

The contrast between her sense of isolation and the growing urgency of the situation underscores the psychological toll of facing a crisis without adequate support, making the search for her son not just a physical journey but also a deeply personal struggle for validation and resolution.