Producers lined up a fake death story for Dylan which coincided with the show's twentieth anniversary and infamous plane crash episode. The story begins when Dylan's enemy Roo Hausman (Richard Cawthorne) kidnaps Stingray. He forces Dylan to commit an armed robbery at a petrol station to secure Stingray's freedom. After Roo makes sure that Dylan is solely implicated and hands the gun used in the robbery to the police. Bodie described the act "the final straw" for Dylan, he knows he will be sent to prison for the crime. Sky remains unaware of the crime and Dylan decides to confide in Paul. Bodie said that Paul is "really angry" and disowns him. Paul later reconsiders and creates a plan to secure Dylan's freedom. He books Dylan onto an aeroplane joy ride alongside other residents, which is bound for Tasmania. Paul states that when the plane lands, he will help him escape. Bodie explained that Dylan views the flight as one last opportunity to spend time with Sky. Dylan discovers that the police intend on arresting him when the plane lands, but an onboard explosion mid-air causes the plane to crash into the Bass Strait.