Yankee White

When a Navy Commander collapses and dies after having lunch with the President of the United States on board Air Force, the NCIS team investigate in order to determine if the death was accidental or something far more sinister.

## Summary

While on Air Force One, a Navy Commander tasked with carrying the "football" dies under mysterious circumstances, forcing an emergency landing in Wichita, Kansas but while his death is originally thought be to a tragic accident, NCIS eventually uncovers evidence suggesting the commander was murdered and that it might be connected to a possible assassination attempt on the President of the United States.

## Plot

While on Air Force One, U.S. Navy Commander Ray Trapp dies of an apparent stroke after having lunch with the President despite the efforts of the President's doctor and medical team. The plane is forced to land at Wichita, Kansas and the President is flown to his original destination on a back-up plane. Trapp visited Air Force One only because Marine Major Timothy Kerry was sick with the flu. NCIS arrive to investigate the death, but meet some jurisdictional problems with both the FBI and Secret Service who each want to take the lead. With Secret Service agent Caitlin Todd grudgingly agreeing to help, NCIS Special Agents Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Tony DiNozzo, and NCIS Medical Examiner Donald "Ducky" Mallard examine the body. The local coroner, a friend of Ducky's, manages to stall the FBI long enough for NCIS to hijack the entire crime scene: Tony shuts the door with the FBI agents still outside and, after receiving authorization from Agent Todd, the pilot immediately flys the plane back to Washington.

During the trip, NCIS begin preliminary examinations before Agent Todd becomes ill. Gibbs is worried she too is infected with whatever killed the Commander, but she explains it is the same flu that Major Kerry had, revealing that she is in a relationship with him which is against fraternization rules. Following the plane to Washington, Senior FBI agent T. C. Fornell makes a deal with Agent Todds superior Secret Service Agent William Bear to take control of the investigation and cut out NCIS by ordering Agent Todd to deliver Commander Trapps body upon landing, as whoever has the body controls the investigation. Despite her protests, Agent Todd follows orders but Gibbs, having suspected such an eventuality, arranged for DiNozzo to impersonate the body allowing their escape. NCIS Director Thomas Morrow later makes a deal with his counterparts for a three-way investigation with NCIS in the lead (as they possess the body).

Back at the NCIS headquarters, Ducky is autopsying the body of Commander Trapp, only to find he suffered a cerebral embolism, which is considered a natural cause of death. Gibbs wants the team to keep looking while he joins Agent Todd aboard Air Force One. On board, Gibbs begins to irritate Agent Todd by comparing the plane to the 1997 film *Air Force One*, whilst discovering that she met Major Timothy Kerry for a drink during her brief stay in DC. Later, another senior officer revealed to be Marine Major Timothy Kerry, is found dead in his car in Georgetown with similar symptoms to those of Commander Trapp. NCIS Forensic Specialist Abby Sciuto is able to find DMSO and snake venom from an Australian Taipan on both Commander Trapp and Major Kerry's uniforms, which could explain why they died. DiNozzo investigates both of them, finding out that Trapp and Kerry used the same dry cleaner and informs Gibbs.

Aboard Air Force One, after determining that the current "football" carrier isn't in danger, Gibbs begins an interrogation of Agent Todd as she was the last person with both dead men. Gibbs questions her motive for Commander Trapp's death before revealing Major Kerry was dead as well, and Todd's reaction makes Gibbs believe that she is innocent. NCIS determines that it is a complex terrorist attempt to assassinate the President, and Gibbs realises that goal of Commander Trapp's death was to switch to the backup plane. Todd explains the differences between the backup plane and the main plane, and Gibbs focuses on the armory, which has locks instead of digital keypads. If terrorists are planning an attack, they must have copied the keys.

Aware of the threat, Gibbs checks the armory while Todd protects the President. The armory is open, and a journalist is trying to get to the President's quarters in an attempt to kill him. Gibbs confronts the journalist, who attacks, but is killed before any damage is done. At the end of the episode, Agent Bear thanks Gibbs for his hard work, and reveals Todd resigned from the Secret Service for breaking fraternization rules. She is then recruited by Gibbs as an NCIS agent.

## Cast

### Main Cast

* Mark Harmon as Special Agent in Charge Leroy Gibbs
* Sasha Alexander as Special Agent Caitlin Todd
* Michael Weatherly as Senior Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo
* Pauley Perrette as Abby Sciuto
* David McCallum as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard

### Recurring

* Pancho Demmings as NCIS Medical assistant Gerald Jackson
* Alan Dale as NCIS Director Thomas Morrow

### Guest Star

* Gerry Becker as Secret Service Agent William Bear
* Joe Spano as Senior FBI agent T. C. Fornell
* Gary Grubbs as Coroner Elmo Poke
* Lawrence Pressman as Secret Service Director
* Gregory Itzin as FBI Director
* Dane Northcutt as Major Timothy Kerry
* Gerald Downey as Commander Ray Trapp
* Robert Bagnell as Leonard Rish
* Gerald McCullouch as FBI Agent
* Michael Adler as Capt. Burger
* Steve Bridges as President George W. Bush