Editor Pete Collins Book order

The book recounts the dramatic events of US Airways flight 1549, which faced catastrophic engine failure due to a bird strike shortly after takeoff. As the aircraft struggled to maintain altitude, the pilot made the critical decision to ditch in the Hudson River, leading to an emergency evacuation of 155 individuals. While most survived, the incident resulted in serious injuries for a few. The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation revealed that the ingestion of birds was the primary cause of the accident, highlighting the risks of wildlife encounters in aviation.

The tragic incident involving Kish Airlines Flight IRK 7170 highlights a catastrophic aviation accident that occurred during its approach to Sharjah International Airport. On February 10, 2004, the Fokker F27 experienced a sudden loss of control, resulting in a steep descent and crash just short of the runway, causing 43 fatalities. The investigation revealed that the accident was due to a pilot's inadvertent movement of the power levers, leading to an irreversible loss of flight control. This case underscores the critical importance of pilot actions in aviation safety.

Set against the backdrop of a tense airport scenario, the story unfolds with a Lockheed 1011 facing a significant delay due to a malfunctioning forward hold door. As a mechanic attempts a manual fix, passengers grow increasingly anxious about their safety, prompting some to request disembarkation. This escalating concern leads to a chaotic situation before the aircraft finally departs. The narrative captures the blend of human emotions and technical challenges in air travel, highlighting the complexities of airline operations.

On December 29, 1972 an Eastern Air Lines' Lockheed L-1011, as Flight 401 on its way from John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, to Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, crashed at 2342 eastern standard time in the Everglades, approximately 18 miles west northwest of Miami International Airport. The aircraft was destroyed. There were 163 passengers and a crew of 13 aboard the aircraft, 99 people died in the crash. The flight was diverted because of problems with the nose landing gear The aircraft climbed to 2,000 feet while the crew attempted to correct the problem. Surviving passengers and crewmembers stated that the flight was routine and operated normally before impact with the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident, was preoccupation with a malfunction of the nose landing gear position indicating system distracted the crew's attention from the instruments and allowed the descent to go unnoticed.