A private jet crashes into woodland outside London. Its passengers include the former US ambassador, Jonathan Kraft. Nikki calls her partner Matt from the crash scene to break the news - his friend and former colleague did not survive the accident. Matt is desperate for answers. When Thomas is called to an apparent suicide of a successful businessman, he finds unexpected connections to the plane crash. Are they dealing with a coordinated attack?
Nikki and the Lyell team continue to investigate the plane crash, ruling out an explosion and engine failure. Suspicion turns to Rowan Cole, the so-called Deadhead - a non-flying pilot who was hitching a lift back when his intended flight was cancelled. The investigation takes a turn when they discover a connection to a sinister online forum. Nikki’s partner Matt is grieving following the death of his close friend, putting their relationship under strain.
When a body is found in a field near the village of Hartford, Nikki and the Lyell team confirm it is that of missing teenager Jason Forbes. Working to the theory that most killers strike close to home, the ambitious DCI Claire Ashby is committed to proving the guilt of her main suspect, local locksmith Malcolm Wilde.
Investigating the murder of a teenage boy, Nikki and her team are forced to question police methods. Although Thomas discovers evidence that throws the time of death into doubt, DCI Claire Ashby seems more concerned with building the case against her main suspect. With pressure building on the police to secure a conviction, the Lyell team must fight to ensure that inconvenient truths aren't overlooked. Meanwhile, Clarissa notes a troubling parallel with a case from the start of her career. Is the real murderer still out there?
Nikki determines that Jenny must have died before making contact with the tracks. But when the search for Jenny’s killer hits a wall, her friends at the women’s refuge seek answers. Meanwhile, Thomas’s political ambitions lead him to make friends in high places. Offers are made to open all the right doors for Thomas, but what do they want in return?
Amanda Burton, who portrayed lead character Dr Sam Ryan for eight years, shares her thoughts on how and why Silent Witness became the television institution that it remains today.