George Kennedy reprises his recurring franchise role as Joe Patroni.
To evade radar, the hijackers fly dangerously low, eventually clipping an oil rig in the Bermuda Triangle .
Dive deeper into the production and legacy of this underwater disaster classic with these retrospectives and trailers: Airport 77 (1977)
The production featured actual U.S. Navy search-and-rescue procedures, including the use of the rescue ship USS Cuyahoga . Reception and Legacy
Despite mixed reviews from critics, the film was a significant commercial success, grossing $91.1 million worldwide. George Kennedy reprises his recurring franchise role as
It received two Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design (the latter by legendary designer Edith Head).
The horror icon took the role specifically to work with Jack Lemmon and performed his own underwater stunts, which reportedly led to a near-drowning incident. Navy search-and-rescue procedures, including the use of the
True to the disaster genre's formula, the film features a massive ensemble of Hollywood legends.