‘Airplane!’ benefit honors co-writer and his mom

milwaukee (ap) | Surely it hasn't been 25 years since the movie "Airplane!" debuted. But it has — and "Don't call me Shirley."

Jewish Family Services of Milwaukee plans an anniversary benefit celebration in honor of the volunteer service and philanthropy of Louise Abrahams Yaffe and her son, Jim Abrahams, who wrote and directed "Airplane!" with fellow Shorewood High School and University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates David and Jerry Zucker.

"Airplane!" stars Robert Hays as a fighter pilot who was traumatized "in the war" and who must land an airliner after the crew becomes disabled, with help from his flight attendant girlfriend, played by Julie Hagerty.

"It's sort of stunning to me that it has endured this long and has become so popular," Abrahams said.