Freefall

On July 23 1983, Captain Bob Pearson entered the cockpit of a twin-engine Boeing 767, one of the most sophisticated airliners in the world, equipped with all the latest technology. He checked his systems and keyed in the information he received from the ground crew. Suddenly, without warning, at 41,000 feet, one of the engines failed. Seconds later, the crew realized that the other engine had also cut out and all electrical power terminated. This is the story of the space-age systems failing and the pilot gliding the massive, unpowered plane and its 61 terrified passengers to safety. In this reconstruction, readers relive the terrors and relief of a near-catastrophe through the eyes of the pilot and passengers, air crew and ground crew, air traffic controllers and witnesses of this miraculous brush with death. William and Marilyn Hoffer have produced over 1000 magazine articles and nine books, including "Not Without My Daughter" and the international best-seller "Midnight Express".