"ncis: Los Angeles" Dead Stick(2022) May 2026

The NCIS team, driven by Sam’s relentless defense of his son, uncovers a corporate conspiracy. They discover that the aircraft's autopilot system, manufactured by Starling Aeronautics, had a known flaw that was intentionally reintroduced for sabotage by Master Chief Frazier. Frazier was acting on behalf of a rival company seeking to acquire the program for itself. Key Subplots and Character Development

: The episode explores the evolving relationship between Sam and his father, Raymond. Raymond offers rare insight into his own past mistakes in raising Sam, urging him not to overprotect Aiden. "NCIS: Los Angeles" Dead Stick(2022)

: Regulars Kensi Blye and Marty Deeks are notably absent from this episode. This allowed for more focus on Sam's family and gave characters like Shyla Dahr a chance to step into field operations. Thematic Significance The NCIS team, driven by Sam’s relentless defense

The central conflict begins when Sam’s son, Aiden Hanna, crashes his fighter jet during a test mission, narrowly avoiding a residential area. Investigators immediately suspect pilot error, threatening Aiden's career. Due to a concussion, Aiden has memory gaps, leaving him unable to defend himself initially. Key Subplots and Character Development : The episode