The unbelievable true story of three pilots flying a routine Federal Express flight who must call on their inner courage, strength, and ability to stop a bitter, suicidal hijacker from killing them, and thousands of people below. David Sanders, Jim Tucker, and Andy Peterson had taken off on a regular "out-and-back," delivering and picking up packages for FedEx's next-day service. They had one jumpseat passenger, an off-duty colleague who they assumed was simply taking advantage of the FedEx perk allowing virtually all employees to ride the company jets for free. The shock came twenty minutes later. Before the plane had reached its normal cruising altitude, the lone passenger attacked the pilots with hammers and a spear gun. He'd had his diabolical plan in the works for months: by crashing the plane into the Federal Express Memphis hub, he'd ruin the company, which he felt had treated him unfairly. With superhuman strength fueled by sheer fury, the attacker struck the pilots again and again. What he didn't count on was the skill and intelligence of the pilots. While Sanders and Peterson tried to stop the relentless battering, copilot Tucker swung the aircraft into dangerous flight maneuvers in an attempt to literally knock the man off his feet. In Hijacked, Dave Hirschman vividly re-creates this hair-raising battle of wills, giving each pilot's point of view and drawing on his own experiences as a pilot to take us inside that fateful day.
This book really reads fast, the only thing that slowed me down was that I kept telling my wife bits from the pages. When the attack took place the author does a great job of making you see the full event? I do not even remember hearing much about this in the past but here are all the facts. It really makes the hardened cockpit doors look like a long overdue idea. Sometimes with airline books you get a lot of pilot speak that is hard to understand but not here - the author does a great job of explaining everything, almost like if he were with you in the living room while you read. You also really get to feel for the victims of this madman. You do not have to be interested in airlines to get a lot out of this book; it is just an overall great read.
WOW! HEROS! Ordinary men in an extraordinary situation
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
I first read about this story in Reader's Digest and was so engrossed in it that I went to my local Bookstore and ordered it shipped "RUSH". I was raised at an airport and have been an avid follower of aviation. I found this book to have a GREAT balance of technical and lay details of aviation. Furthermore, I had a long talk with a FedEx 727 Captain who was "Non-Reving" on our airline about this incident, he knows this crew personally and was there at the Memphis airport when this happened. He also thought that the book was well written and quite accurate and realistic. I LOVE true stories of courage and strength. I was not disappointed in the purchase of this book. GOOD LUCK to David, Jim, and Andy and their families. Our prayers are with you all. Dave ... Thanx for a GREAT Book. God Bless ... mike
Astounding!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
I bought this book in an airport bookshop about five minutes before departure and in 4 days had it completed. This is perhaps the BEST book ever published. If you follow my reviews, you know I like true accounts, and real events. Well let me tell you, YOU ARE THERE. Hijacked takes you along on the April day in 1994 when a disgruntled employ tried (niotice I said tried) to hijack a fully loaded DC-10 cargo plane. You are shown the the events leading up to the day, the things that actually went on; from takeoff to landing; and the aftermath. This is my Five star list simply because you couldnt rate any higher. I cannot use words to stress the bravery of the crew and the efforts of all involved in this tragedy. Read this and you will see a story of true American heroism at work. An amazing book
Unbelievable!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
I knew about this story before I read the book. My husband flies for FedEx, but was not involved in the incident. If this had been written as fiction, readers would have thought it "over the top," as it is so hard to believe what these pilots survived. I read this book in 2 days and even though I knew most of the details, I could not put it down. I felt like I'd witnessed the event. As an airline pilot's wife, I found the telling of the pilots' personal stories to be relevant and most compelling.
A goood home town story of struggle for life.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
Since I live in Memphis I was around when this happened and could not believe what had taken place. Also the book gives a background on the pilots and tells a lot of what was not found out by the average person just by watching the news and finding out through the grapevine. I enjoyed this bokk because it keept you glued to the book and wanting to know what happens next. I hope more of you will take the oppertuity to try this book and enjoy it for its true and good story.
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