Landing "Thunderbird 2", Virgil deploys two remote-controlled Elevator Cars and a manned master car. The plan is to guide "Fireflash" into a gentle landing on top of the cars to avoid setting off the bomb. However, the first rescue attempt is aborted after one of the remote-controlled cars suffers a mechanical failure and crashes into a parked aircraft. Virgil activates a reserve car and "Fireflash" begins a second descent, successfully making contact with all three cars. Virgil brakes but then loses control of the master car; he crashes into a ditch but is unhurt. Supported by the other cars, "Fireflash" comes to a halt and the bomb, though dislodged by the inertia, fails to explode.