Jake's wingman (Phoenix) is hit—hydraulic leak. She has to pull out. Jake is alone with Maverick.
They engage the drones. Maverick takes two, but his aircraft takes a shrapnel hit—canopy cracks, oil pressure plummets. He's bleeding from the scalp.
We learn the truth via a private scene with Iceman (text-to-speech device): "Hollywood broke formation on a live-fire exercise in '92. He almost killed you, Jake. You were a baby in the back seat. Maverick took the blame to save his career. Your father never forgave him for the mercy."
Maverick's voice, breaking up: "That's a kill, kid. That's a goddamn kill." top gun 2018
But his hand trembles.
His RIO (unnamed) sighs. "Sundown... you locked up."
The drone explodes. Debris pings off his canopy. Jake's wingman (Phoenix) is hit—hydraulic leak
Maverick's engine seizes. He ejects at 300 feet. Parachute just opens before he slams into a pine forest. EXT. MOUNTAIN HOSPITAL - NIGHT
Maverick volunteers to lead. Jake is his wingman.
The mission. Four Super Hornets against five drones. The canyon is a blender of granite walls and SAM radar. They engage the drones
The last drone locks onto a civilian dam. Maverick has no missiles left. He orders Jake: "Boresight merge. Guns only. I'll draw his fire."
Jake, bruised, stands outside Maverick's room. Maverick has a broken arm and stitches across his forehead. Iceman is there, holding Maverick's other hand.