Airplane II: The Sequel, released in 1982, is a parody film that followed the highly successful Airplane!, although it was notably created without the original creative team. Ken Finkleman, who also wrote Grease 2, stepped in to write and direct, bringing back stars Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty alongside comedic talents like Lloyd Bridges, William Shatner, Rip Torn, and Sonny Bono. The story sees former test pilot Ted Striker escape a mental institution, convinced the inaugural flight of the XR-2300 lunar shuttle, piloted by his ex-lover Elaine Dickinson, is a "flying death trap."

As the spaceship launches, a series of catastrophic events unfold, largely due to a malfunctioning artificially intelligent computer system named R.O.K., sending the vessel hurtling towards the Sun through an asteroid field. Ted must confront his own past traumas and anxieties to guide the runaway shuttle and save everyone on board. Despite its ensemble cast, the film received mixed reviews from critics and was a commercial disappointment, ultimately leading to the cancellation of a planned Airplane III.