Departed chief will save aircrew in the end (4)
I believe the answer is:
flew
'departed' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with motion as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'chief will save aircrew in the end' is the wordplay.
'in the end' indicates one should take the final letters.
The last letters of 'chief will save aircrew' are 'FLEW'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for flew that I've seen before include "Rushed < from local flat" , "Rushed (by air?)" , "Travelled by air" , "Shot" , "Travelled by plane" .)