Ep 11. Wings

The episode titled "Wings" is the eleventh installment of the sixth season of the acclaimed crime procedural drama, Cold Case, created by Meredith Stiehm. The show premiered on CBS on September 28, 2003, and ran for seven seasons, concluding on May 2, 2010, having aired a total of 156 episodes.

"Wings" follows the story of a young teenage girl named Jessica who died in a plane crash with her father and uncle on June 30, 2005. The case remained unsolved for years until Detective Lilly Rush and her team re-examined the case, prompting new leads and potential suspects.

The episode opens with a striking scene of a young Jessica in her bedroom, admiring the poster of a plane stuck on her wall. Her mother comes in and tells her about a special surprise that she has arranged for her had she not had plans to spend time with her father. Later that day, Jessica's father, Andrew, and her uncle, Ethan, arrive at the airport to take her on a surprise flight. Shortly after takeoff, something goes wrong, and the plane crashes, killing all the occupants.

Detective Lilly Rush, played by Kathryn Morris, is tasked with re-opening the case after a letter from one of the passengers' relatives claims that there might have been foul play in the tragedy. Rush's team consists of reliable detectives who share her passion for justice: John Stillman (John Finn), Will Jeffries (Thom Barry), Nick Vera (Jeremy Ratchford) and Kat Miller (Tracie Thoms), all of whom aid in sifting through the evidence with a fine tooth comb.

As the investigation progresses, the detectives unravel several motives, including family disputes, life insurance fraud, and legal disputes. However, the twist in the tale emerges when the detectives find out that Jessica had a chance encounter with a man at the airport on the night of the flight, and he was the last person seen with her before the crash.

The detectives discover that the man in question is Calvin, who is a pilot for the same airline, and has a history with Jessica's father, Andrew, who had kept the two apart due to their age difference. Furthermore, Andrew had been having an affair with his flight attendant that was on the same flight as Jessica's. The detectives had to explore possible links between these two individuals.

The team also investigates Andrew's brother, Ethan, who had accompanied the pair on the flight. Ethan has a history of financial trouble and his personal records reflect a substantial policy payout after the crash. However, they find that Ethan had not played any role in the crash but had been trying to profit from it.

As the investigation reaches a critical juncture, the detectives come to the realization that the crash had not been an accident but a deliberate act of sabotage. The killer had planted a mini-bomb in the plane that had exploded during the flight. However, none of the suspects were skilled enough to be involved in such an act.

The detectives then discover that there was one other person on the plane who had not been mentioned in the official records - a woman named Tanya. The detectives investigate Tanya and find that she had been on the flight attendant training program with the flight attendant Andrew had been having an affair with. Furthermore, she had been fired from the airline due to failing a drug test.

The episode culminates in a thrilling conclusion where the detectives uncover Tanya's true identity and the motive behind the act of terrorism. They apprehend her just before she tries to flee the country.

Overall, "Wings" is a riveting episode of Cold Case that highlights the delicate investigative process of uncovering clues to solve a crime. The episode presents an enthralling plot that takes the viewer on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with several twists and turns along the way. The show's direction and performances from the cast make this one of the series most memorable episodes.