The story takes place mainly over the course of one evening, as a massive snowstorm plays havoc with airport operations. The storyline centers on Bakersfeld's struggles to keep the airport open during the storm. His chief problem is the primary runway,29, which closes when a plane taxiing for takeoff turns past the wrong side of a light, burying the plane's nose gear in the mud, blocking the runway. The stuck plane becomes a major problem as a later emergency requires that the runway become available.
The book shows an overview of the vast and complex operations involved in operating a major commercial airport.