The crash of Flight 1421
The Pure Horror: A Passenger Jet's Engine Catches Fire Shortly After Takeoff. The Plane Crashes. An Emergency Water Landing Is Initiated, But Only Twelve People Survive. Trapped at a Depth of 55 Meters, They Hope for Rescue. Is It in Vain? "Crash" is an Adrenaline-Pumping Thriller by T.J. Newman!
ATTENTION, WARNING! Do you suffer from anxiety? Are you a non-swimmer? Do you have a fear of flying? If you answer "yes" to all three questions, please do not continue. Instead, consider taking a swimming course. For starters. Or: Face your fears. Now it's time: Buckle up. Take safety positions. Breathe. Continue reading - and have a towel handy.
It begins quietly. Flight 1421 took off from Honolulu just a few minutes ago. The passengers are buckled up and relaxed. Even Will and his eleven-year-old daughter Shannon have settled in - against her will - for a visit to a summer camp. Then an engine catches fire. Flames burning bright. The passengers grow uneasy. The crew is alerted.
Quickly, it becomes clear: A turnaround of the aircraft is not possible. The plane is maneuvering poorly. The aircraft crashes. Emergency water landing.
It succeeds. But that's where the tragedy really begins: Inflatable rafts are deployed, the first passengers save themselves into the water. The rest push forward. Chaos. Panic. Will, still slightly dazed from the impact of the plane on the water surface, looks out of a cabin window. The fire is still burning, fuel is leaking out. A kerosene slick forms on the water. Will shouts. No one is to leave the plane! The danger outside is much greater than in the plane itself. But his warning is lost in the panicked screams of the crowd rushing towards the open door.
From Bad to Worse
Will is right. The wind picks up - and a fireball makes every survival in the water impossible. There are still twelve people in the plane, among them three crew members, two children, an elderly couple, a young widower, a nurse, a non-swimmer - and the obligatory jerk in first class. The passenger, who always causes trouble, insults the crew, makes fun of them, and seems to be constantly looking for a fight. After a disaster, he's the last person you want to see as a survivor. Or as an audiobook listener of "Crash" by T.J. Newman. The unsympathetic character's name is Andy, and the author has a nice twist prepared for him.
But the character of Andy is part of the plot of the bestseller, just like the resourceful, determined pilot and the father-daughter duo on a treasure hunt. The characters are what captivate the listener. They could be anyone's grandparents, friends, or parents. And that's what draws you in, keeps you captivated. The story itself is full of twists and turns. So the supposed safety in the crashed plane becomes a life-threatening situation, as the plane sinks. The survivors manage to create an airtight space. And once again, it means: Safety. Temporary.
The rescue is underway. Coast Guard and US Navy are mobilizing. They are exploring rescue possibilities, brainstorming solutions for the life-threatening situation underwater. The plane is at a depth of 55 meters on a reef. Can it be lifted? Can the people get to the surface "dive"? Chris doesn't care about any of that. She is an industrial diver, knows the underwater world like the back of her hand, and is a master at thinking on her feet. Something that comes in handy in this rescue operation. When she then finds out that her ex-husband and daughter are on board the crashed plane, a plan forms in her mind. She just needs to convince the command center. Time is running out.
"Crash" also knows this listener of "Crash". Every minute, every second that passes, it sinks in. No matter how much one plans, getting into the perfect rescue position, when a carry-on bag explodes, a laptop reveals itself as a flying projectile in the air, or a seemingly light hand luggage becomes a ton-heavy death trap that targets the head and neck, people's plans are there to give God a laugh.
The victims in Newman's "Crash"-Flight 1421 are arbitrary. What the author describes in an impressive, emotional, and overwhelming way can also happen. This creates an adrenaline level that cannot be healthy in the long term. The audiobook by Newman lasts for approximately nine hours, her second book. Also a bestseller. It's no surprise, considering Newman's background: she worked for several years as a flight attendant, including for Alaska Air. That's why... Never mind. Newman was also a bookseller. As a listener or reader, you can tell her love for words, sentences, and dialogues right away from Ronin and Goldmann's publication. Newman has a knack for good stories, action-packed plots, the human element, the big feelings.
It's only a matter of time before "Crash" is filmed as a Hollywood blockbuster or a streaming series, with Oscars included. "Crash" is like a rush that one falls into; like a whirlpool, from which there is no escape and which pulls you deeper and deeper. The voices of audiobook narrators Uve Teschner and Michaela Gaertner transport the plot, the transformations, the feelings that emerge. Skillfully, sovereignly: "... it's all going to be okay. It's all going to be okay ...", thinks Will. Maybe.
Following the plane crash, many survivors were left stranded, searching for a way to survive. Amidst the chaos, some passengers took refuge in the plane, fearing the dangers outside. One of these passengers was a regular air traveler, known for causing trouble, who had infamously left a series of negative reviews for Germanwings Flight 4U9525 before its unfortunate demise.
Survivors of the crash relied heavily on rescue efforts from coast guards and the US Navy, who aimed to strategize possible means of raising the plane from its depth of 55 meters. Yet, as they sought out ways to ensure the survivors' safety, they couldn't ignore the constant threat of debris and explosions, reminiscent of the thrilling story depicted in T.J. Newman's bestselling book "Crash."
