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Flight Into Danger
Captain Dunning had collapsed in the pilot's seat, but the voice at controls was We are in distress... At least five passengers are sick. Both pilots are unconscious and in serious condition. My name is George Spenser. I am a passenger on this airplane. I was a passenger. I am now the pilot. What happened? Who was the new pilot? Would anyone reach the ground alive?
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
67 people are currently reading
811 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Hailey
94 books759 followersArthur Hailey was a British/Canadian novelist. After working at a number of jobs and writing part-time, he became a writer full-time during 1956, encouraged by the success of the CBC television drama, Flight into Danger (in print as
Runway Zero Eight
). Following the success of Hotel in 1965, he moved to California; followed by a permanent move to the Bahamas in 1969.
Each of his novels has a different industrial or commercial setting and includes, in addition to dramatic human conflict, carefully researched information about the way that particular environment and system functions and how these affect society and its inhabitants.
Critics often dismissed Hailey's success as the result of a formulaic "potboiler" style, in which he caused an ordinary character to become involved in a crisis, then increased the suspense by switching among multiple related plot lines.
Hailey would spend approximately one year researching a subject, followed by six months reviewing his notes and, finally, about 18 months writing the book.
Many of his books reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and more than 170 million copies have been sold worldwide in 40 languages. Many have been made into movies and Hotel was made into a long-running television series. Airport became a successful film with dramatic visual effects.
A Canadian citizen whose children live in Canada and California, Hailey made his home in Lyford Cay, an exclusive residential resort on New Providence Island in the Bahamas with his second wife Sheila.
In 2002, Hailey told John Marquis, editor of the Bahamas' principal daily newspaper The Tribune, that he was lucky in having supportive parents who encouraged him to believe in himself. Brought up in a working-class home, Hailey never lost the common touch following his phenomenal success. 'I have worked hard, but I have also been very lucky,' he said.
Each of his novels has a different industrial or commercial setting and includes, in addition to dramatic human conflict, carefully researched information about the way that particular environment and system functions and how these affect society and its inhabitants.
Critics often dismissed Hailey's success as the result of a formulaic "potboiler" style, in which he caused an ordinary character to become involved in a crisis, then increased the suspense by switching among multiple related plot lines.
Hailey would spend approximately one year researching a subject, followed by six months reviewing his notes and, finally, about 18 months writing the book.
Many of his books reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and more than 170 million copies have been sold worldwide in 40 languages. Many have been made into movies and Hotel was made into a long-running television series. Airport became a successful film with dramatic visual effects.
A Canadian citizen whose children live in Canada and California, Hailey made his home in Lyford Cay, an exclusive residential resort on New Providence Island in the Bahamas with his second wife Sheila.
In 2002, Hailey told John Marquis, editor of the Bahamas' principal daily newspaper The Tribune, that he was lucky in having supportive parents who encouraged him to believe in himself. Brought up in a working-class home, Hailey never lost the common touch following his phenomenal success. 'I have worked hard, but I have also been very lucky,' he said.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
September 18, 2018
Enjoyed the wild ride!
FLIGHT INTO DANGER was first published in 1958 when flying was a whole different ballgame....when smoking was the norm, flight attendants were stewardess' and the captain left the cockpit to chat with the passengers.
Fog originally delayed this particular flight from Winnipeg to Vancouver, and George Spencer, a last minute boarding was happy to find a seat hoping to save an important business deal for his company.
So.....all 59 passengers are ready to rock & roll....and hungry when dinner is finally served. Fish or lambs chops are the choices and it's not long before the storyline takes a painfully sickening turn.
Intense and suspenseful last quarter....all the way to the end!
February 5, 2021
Flight into Danger (1956) was a screenplay penned by Arthur Hailey for a television film.
Later,it was novelized as Runway Zero Eight.
It also became a 1971 film,Terror in the Sky which can be seen on youtube.
A plane is in mid air when both pilots suffer food poisoning and are incapacitated. A passenger is asked to try and land the plane with instructions from the ground as his only help.
A quick read,fairly entertaining. It helped set the template for future disaster films. Hailey would again revisit the theme of crisis aboard an aircraft in his phenomenal bestseller Airport.
Later,it was novelized as Runway Zero Eight.
It also became a 1971 film,Terror in the Sky which can be seen on youtube.
A plane is in mid air when both pilots suffer food poisoning and are incapacitated. A passenger is asked to try and land the plane with instructions from the ground as his only help.
A quick read,fairly entertaining. It helped set the template for future disaster films. Hailey would again revisit the theme of crisis aboard an aircraft in his phenomenal bestseller Airport.
August 17, 2021
4/5 Kārtīgs trillerītis. Vairāki pasažieri un, pats ļaunākais, abi piloti smagi saindējas ar ēdienu, un visu 59 lidmašīnā esošo cilvēku dzīvības ir atkarīgas no 3 cilvēkiem - jaunas stjuartes, izbijuša iznīcinātāju pilota ar ļoti ierūsējošām un trūkstošām avio prasmēm, un zolīdā daktera bez nepieciešamajām zālēm. Labi gan, ka ir radiosakari!
Heilijs kā vienmēr ir labi izpētījis tēmu par kuru raksta, lidmašīnas kontroles panelis, procedūras un vadīšanas procesi.. viss šķiet ļoti reāli, pat ja varoņu savstarpējie dialogi ir visai mākslīgi...
Heilijs kā vienmēr ir labi izpētījis tēmu par kuru raksta, lidmašīnas kontroles panelis, procedūras un vadīšanas procesi.. viss šķiet ļoti reāli, pat ja varoņu savstarpējie dialogi ir visai mākslīgi...
October 1, 2022
I can see why Runway Zero-Eight is a classic thriller. This was first published in 1959, so expect some latent sexism, but this is a non-stop adrenaline rush from the get go. Our lead, George Spence, makes a living selling trucks, and catches a flight to Vancouver at the last minute to sort out a deal. The flight, carrying about 55 people, two pilots and a stewardess, starts out fine, but those who ate the fish dinner are soon regretting it as they suddenly become violently ill. Unfortunately, that includes the two pilots.
This is the book that inspired the spoof Airplane back in the 80s and I believe it was made into a movie long before that. Hailey really did his homework on the technical details of the plane-- a four engine prop job-- as an experienced pilot at the airport tries to talk George in. George did fly fighter planes in the war (e.g., WWII), but that was over a decade ago and he has not flown since. Yet, of all the passengers, he is the only one with any flight experience. This is more of a novella than a real novel; you can read it in a few hours at best. Highly recommended for thriller fans! 4 stars!
This is the book that inspired the spoof Airplane back in the 80s and I believe it was made into a movie long before that. Hailey really did his homework on the technical details of the plane-- a four engine prop job-- as an experienced pilot at the airport tries to talk George in. George did fly fighter planes in the war (e.g., WWII), but that was over a decade ago and he has not flown since. Yet, of all the passengers, he is the only one with any flight experience. This is more of a novella than a real novel; you can read it in a few hours at best. Highly recommended for thriller fans! 4 stars!
November 1, 2025
Arthur Hailey and John Castle bring this great thriller to readers, in a harrowing journey from Winnipeg to Vancouver one foggy night! While it does present as a slightly ‘hokey’ piece, it is highly entertaining and stood up to some of the other airline disaster books I have read recently. During an overnight flight from Winnipeg to Vancouver, a charter plane pushes into an unpredictable disaster. With a number of passengers sick from food poisoning, the captain has to make plans for an emergency landing somewhere across the foggy Canadian Prairies. However, both Captain Dunning and his first officer collapse from the same sickness, leaving a former wartime pilot and a flight attendant to guide the aircraft on its journey. Aided by a pilot at air traffic control in Vancouver, the plane is guided across the Canadian Rockies, as emergency crews wait in Vancouver, fearing the worst. Hailey and Castle deliver an entertaining piece thag had me hooked!
Arthur Hailey is an author whose name I am familiar with, but his writing remains a mystery. His collaborative efforts with John Castle served to add something to his his piece. The story presents a great airline disaster scenario and posits how a group of individuals with their own ideas might solve things on a panic. The story has many moments where things are clipping along, only to have something go awry, which adds to the momentum and the tension. These two narratives—plane and land—help create a tension as both seek to problem solve, while never fully permitting the reader to lose direction. Hailey and Castle keep the reader on edge as hopes become last ditch truths and no one is sure what will come of it all. Working in the airline industry as well (and being fascinated with crashes for some reason), I could not get enough of this piece!
Characters are impactful as they set about creating their own backstories and development. Readers will enjoy the varied personalities who emerge through the reading experience, many of whom flavour things to add new layers to the book. Having focus on people from both narrative perspectives helps create a stronger foundation for the book and added a great entertainment value. I was eager to discover how everyone, some onboard and others on land, would come together and create a story well worth my time. It happened and the authors knew just how to shape them.
Surprises are core in a thriller of this nature, as nothing is too predictable. This novel works well and both authors were keen to show their abilities. There are things that arise swiftly, as well as events that have been chapters in the making, though both get the same attention to detail. The twists that emerge throughout help shape the reader’s reception of things as chaos rules for most of the read. I was captivated from the outset and will have to read more of Hailey’s other novels to compare th calibre.
Kudos, Messrs. Hailey and Castle, for a great airline disaster piece.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Arthur Hailey is an author whose name I am familiar with, but his writing remains a mystery. His collaborative efforts with John Castle served to add something to his his piece. The story presents a great airline disaster scenario and posits how a group of individuals with their own ideas might solve things on a panic. The story has many moments where things are clipping along, only to have something go awry, which adds to the momentum and the tension. These two narratives—plane and land—help create a tension as both seek to problem solve, while never fully permitting the reader to lose direction. Hailey and Castle keep the reader on edge as hopes become last ditch truths and no one is sure what will come of it all. Working in the airline industry as well (and being fascinated with crashes for some reason), I could not get enough of this piece!
Characters are impactful as they set about creating their own backstories and development. Readers will enjoy the varied personalities who emerge through the reading experience, many of whom flavour things to add new layers to the book. Having focus on people from both narrative perspectives helps create a stronger foundation for the book and added a great entertainment value. I was eager to discover how everyone, some onboard and others on land, would come together and create a story well worth my time. It happened and the authors knew just how to shape them.
Surprises are core in a thriller of this nature, as nothing is too predictable. This novel works well and both authors were keen to show their abilities. There are things that arise swiftly, as well as events that have been chapters in the making, though both get the same attention to detail. The twists that emerge throughout help shape the reader’s reception of things as chaos rules for most of the read. I was captivated from the outset and will have to read more of Hailey’s other novels to compare th calibre.
Kudos, Messrs. Hailey and Castle, for a great airline disaster piece.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 25, 2020
Ця коротка книжка пролітає у вашій уяві яскравими, кінематографічними епізодами. Неймовірно захопливо, динамічно та напружено. На борту літака - масові отруєння, без свідомості лишаються навіть пілоти, єдиний шанс посадити літак - дати інструкції з землі людині, котра ніколи цього не робила. Книга буквально на один вечір, але вона вириває вас з реального світу на занурює в свою історію настільки максимально, наскільки це можливо.
November 29, 2015
this has been totally awesome.it has been years since i've read his book. it's good to get back the sense of thrill and suspense.
this book is a page turner. my hands and feet were clammy from the suspense of the final approach. i know his books quite well. usually the ending would be good but still i can't help feeling the thrill and excitement of the "what if" scenerio.
i think i cannot read his book consecutively as it would cause the excitement to lessen. yes, the plots of his books are usually similar. ordinary people running into abnormal situation for a few hours ir day.. very thrilling if it is read at different timing.
i like this book very kuch.
this book is a page turner. my hands and feet were clammy from the suspense of the final approach. i know his books quite well. usually the ending would be good but still i can't help feeling the thrill and excitement of the "what if" scenerio.
i think i cannot read his book consecutively as it would cause the excitement to lessen. yes, the plots of his books are usually similar. ordinary people running into abnormal situation for a few hours ir day.. very thrilling if it is read at different timing.
i like this book very kuch.
March 8, 2016
"Επικίνδυνη πτήση", εκδόσεις Bell.
Βαθμολογία: 7/10
Ο Άρθουρ Χέιλι έγραψε κάπου στα έντεκα μυθιστορήματα, με το καθένα από αυτά να σχετίζεται με έναν συγκεκριμένο χώρο (ξενοδοχείο, αεροδρόμιο, νοσοκομείο, φαρμακοβιομηχανία, πολιτική, αστυνομία κλπ), όπου μέσω των πλοκών τους αναλύονται όλες οι ανθρώπινες σχέσεις και συγκρούσεις που πυροδοτούνται από το αντίστοιχο περιβάλλον.
Εδώ έχουμε να κάνουμε με ένα αρκετά τρομακτικό σενάριο: Ένα επιβατικό αεροπλάνο με εξήντα επιβάτες, με προορισμό το Βανκούβερ, μένει ουσιαστικά ακυβέρνητο, όταν οι δυο πιλότοι του αρρωσταίνουν άσχημα λόγω τροφικής δηλητηρίασης (μαζί με αρκετούς επιβάτες). Ένας επιβάτης, που πριν δέκα χρόνια είχε πιλοτάρει κάποια καταδιωκτικά στον πόλεμο, είναι ο μόνος που έχει κάποιες γνώσεις στο πιλοτάρισμα. Ένας γιατρός θα προσπαθήσει να φροντίσει τους αρρώστους. Οι υπεύθυνοι στον πύργο ελέγχου του αεροδρομίου του Βανκούβερ, θα κάνουν τα πάντα για να βοηθήσουν την κατάσταση. Ο Θεός βοηθός...
Συνήθως σε ταινίες και βιβλία με παρόμοιο σενάριο, το τέλος είναι προδιαγεγραμμένο και χαρούμενο, κάτι που όπως είναι φυσικό μειώνει κάπως την αγωνία του θεατή/αναγνώστη. Όμως, όσον αφορά το βιβλίο αυτό, έτσι έντονα ρεαλιστικά γραμμένο όπως ήταν, μπορώ να πω ότι ο συγγραφέας κατάφερε να μου κρατήσει το ενδιαφέρον μέχρι το φινάλε - ακόμα και να με αγχώσει λιγάκι! Σίγουρα δεν μπορώ να πω ότι ξετρελάθηκα, ούτε από την γραφή ούτε από την πλοκή, ειλικρινά όμως δεν κατάλαβα πότε πέρασε η ώρα. Και αυτό σημαίνει ότι, τουλάχιστον, δεν πέρασα άσχημα. Υ.Γ. Η κεντρική ιδέα της γνωστής κωμικής ταινίας Airplane! (1980), βασίζεται στο βιβλίο αυτό.
Βαθμολογία: 7/10
Ο Άρθουρ Χέιλι έγραψε κάπου στα έντεκα μυθιστορήματα, με το καθένα από αυτά να σχετίζεται με έναν συγκεκριμένο χώρο (ξενοδοχείο, αεροδρόμιο, νοσοκομείο, φαρμακοβιομηχανία, πολιτική, αστυνομία κλπ), όπου μέσω των πλοκών τους αναλύονται όλες οι ανθρώπινες σχέσεις και συγκρούσεις που πυροδοτούνται από το αντίστοιχο περιβάλλον.
Εδώ έχουμε να κάνουμε με ένα αρκετά τρομακτικό σενάριο: Ένα επιβατικό αεροπλάνο με εξήντα επιβάτες, με προορισμό το Βανκούβερ, μένει ουσιαστικά ακυβέρνητο, όταν οι δυο πιλότοι του αρρωσταίνουν άσχημα λόγω τροφικής δηλητηρίασης (μαζί με αρκετούς επιβάτες). Ένας επιβάτης, που πριν δέκα χρόνια είχε πιλοτάρει κάποια καταδιωκτικά στον πόλεμο, είναι ο μόνος που έχει κάποιες γνώσεις στο πιλοτάρισμα. Ένας γιατρός θα προσπαθήσει να φροντίσει τους αρρώστους. Οι υπεύθυνοι στον πύργο ελέγχου του αεροδρομίου του Βανκούβερ, θα κάνουν τα πάντα για να βοηθήσουν την κατάσταση. Ο Θεός βοηθός...
Συνήθως σε ταινίες και βιβλία με παρόμοιο σενάριο, το τέλος είναι προδιαγεγραμμένο και χαρούμενο, κάτι που όπως είναι φυσικό μειώνει κάπως την αγωνία του θεατή/αναγνώστη. Όμως, όσον αφορά το βιβλίο αυτό, έτσι έντονα ρεαλιστικά γραμμένο όπως ήταν, μπορώ να πω ότι ο συγγραφέας κατάφερε να μου κρατήσει το ενδιαφέρον μέχρι το φινάλε - ακόμα και να με αγχώσει λιγάκι! Σίγουρα δεν μπορώ να πω ότι ξετρελάθηκα, ούτε από την γραφή ούτε από την πλοκή, ειλικρινά όμως δεν κατάλαβα πότε πέρασε η ώρα. Και αυτό σημαίνει ότι, τουλάχιστον, δεν πέρασα άσχημα. Υ.Γ. Η κεντρική ιδέα της γνωστής κωμικής ταινίας Airplane! (1980), βασίζεται στο βιβλίο αυτό.
April 25, 2025
Чудово написана, хоч (здавалось би) така банальна історія — високо у небі під час кількагодинного перельоту внаслідок отруєння обидва пілоти літака нездатні виконувати свої функції, керування літаком беруть на себе колишній пілот, який керував лише маленькими одномісними літаками, та стюардеса. Попри передбачуване закінчення, цей невеличкий твір тримає у напрузі. І мені дуже подобається автор та його «виробничі» романи.
July 23, 2015
Артур Хейли не подвел. Расплакалась в конце, чего от себя не ожидала, сюжет знаю от и до, но эмоции меня з��топили. Сюжет настолько напряжен, что я на пару часов буквально приросла к читалке.
Собственно, самолет частной авиакомпании летит в Ванкувер. Во время полета пассажиры и часть экипажа скушали рыбки и стало им всем резко плохо, и в итоге самолет остался без пилота. Но благо на борту оказался Джон Спенсер и подумаешь, что последний раз за штурвал летного средства он садился лет десять назад и летал всего лишь на одномоторных истребителях.
Это история о мужестве, о простых людях, которые в совершенно безнадежных ситуациях вогружают на свои плечи непосильные задачи и смело идут до самого конца! Оценка : 5 из 5. Кстати, есть крутая экранизация этой книги! Которую очень советую глянуть, не пожалеете!
Собственно, самолет частной авиакомпании летит в Ванкувер. Во время полета пассажиры и часть экипажа скушали рыбки и стало им всем резко плохо, и в итоге самолет остался без пилота. Но благо на борту оказался Джон Спенсер и подумаешь, что последний раз за штурвал летного средства он садился лет десять назад и летал всего лишь на одномоторных истребителях.
Это история о мужестве, о простых людях, которые в совершенно безнадежных ситуациях вогружают на свои плечи непосильные задачи и смело идут до самого конца! Оценка : 5 из 5. Кстати, есть крутая экранизация этой книги! Которую очень советую глянуть, не пожалеете!
March 23, 2024
Short, spare and spunky, this cornerstone of mid-century suspense novels does not fail to impress more than 60 years later. Passenger air travel in the 1950s was a developing industry. Flying was, still, somewhat of a novelty. This little gem was first a teleplay, then adapted to this novel. Hailey continued to write in the same milieu - one place, many personalities (often conflicting amongst themselves) each with their own backstory and each having to overcome some personal struggle. The tension abides as our ex-military pilot (Spitfire veteran) has to bring a multi-engine passenger craft to a safe landing in awful weather after the crew and many of the passengers have become ill with food poisoning. It satisfies a need for a brief but totally engaging read.
March 3, 2022
Very exciting! the technical details of aircraft landing was well described. Coincidentally I read this book on a flight and finished it when the plane landed. This added to the excitement.
Not sure if I would have rated this as 5 * if I was on firm ground.
This book reminded me several times of Arthur Hailey' s other book Airport. This is a quick read and recommended to fans of aviation thrillers.
Not sure if I would have rated this as 5 * if I was on firm ground.
This book reminded me several times of Arthur Hailey' s other book Airport. This is a quick read and recommended to fans of aviation thrillers.
July 29, 2025
★★★★★
FLIGHT INTO DANGER - Definitely a five star read. No hesitation!
I absolutely absolutely loved this. One of the most stressful, gripping reads I have had in a long time. The story unfolds almost in real time, which adds to the growing pressure with every page. I was genuinely tense throughout. Watching George Spencer being talked through how to land a commercial airliner after both pilots are incapacitated was completely absorbing. The instructions, the decisions, the silence between transmissions, it all felt so real. I found myself reacting as though I was the one being asked to take control. An absolute nightmare scenario, but told so well.
George is exactly the kind of character this story needs. Not a hero, just a man trying to stay calm and do the right thing. The other characters are thinly drawn and mostly there to keep the plot moving, but considering this was originally written as a teleplay, that makes sense. The focus is on the situation rather than the backstories, and that works here.
After finishing it, I looked it up and was amazed to learn this was broadcast live on Canadian television in 1956. A live aviation thriller on TV. That kind of ambition is rare now. No edits, no post production, just the pressure of getting it right in front of a national audience. I found that fascinating.
The drama mostly takes place in the cockpit and passenger cabin, with very little space and very few characters, but it never drags. The writing is clean, fast and full of urgency. It keeps a strong sense of momentum all the way through.
It is a short read and obviously a product of its time, but it still holds up. And once you realise it became the template for the entire disaster genre in both books and film, it becomes even more interesting. A sharp, tense and incredibly focused piece of storytelling. Absolutely worth reading.
FLIGHT INTO DANGER - Definitely a five star read. No hesitation!
I absolutely absolutely loved this. One of the most stressful, gripping reads I have had in a long time. The story unfolds almost in real time, which adds to the growing pressure with every page. I was genuinely tense throughout. Watching George Spencer being talked through how to land a commercial airliner after both pilots are incapacitated was completely absorbing. The instructions, the decisions, the silence between transmissions, it all felt so real. I found myself reacting as though I was the one being asked to take control. An absolute nightmare scenario, but told so well.
George is exactly the kind of character this story needs. Not a hero, just a man trying to stay calm and do the right thing. The other characters are thinly drawn and mostly there to keep the plot moving, but considering this was originally written as a teleplay, that makes sense. The focus is on the situation rather than the backstories, and that works here.
After finishing it, I looked it up and was amazed to learn this was broadcast live on Canadian television in 1956. A live aviation thriller on TV. That kind of ambition is rare now. No edits, no post production, just the pressure of getting it right in front of a national audience. I found that fascinating.
The drama mostly takes place in the cockpit and passenger cabin, with very little space and very few characters, but it never drags. The writing is clean, fast and full of urgency. It keeps a strong sense of momentum all the way through.
It is a short read and obviously a product of its time, but it still holds up. And once you realise it became the template for the entire disaster genre in both books and film, it becomes even more interesting. A sharp, tense and incredibly focused piece of storytelling. Absolutely worth reading.
January 22, 2020
So good, too short. The characters were so vividly painted, and such an easy page turner. Enjoyed every second. Recommend it if you’re looking for a short, fast paced action book to get you out of the slump.
About this book;
Suddenly there’s passengers falling ill on an airplane and soon the pilot and co pilot are affected as well. It follows the journey of a doctor who thought he was on vacation, a stewardess who suddenly finds herself at the cockpit and an ex-pilot who only has driven fighter jets before.
About this book;
Suddenly there’s passengers falling ill on an airplane and soon the pilot and co pilot are affected as well. It follows the journey of a doctor who thought he was on vacation, a stewardess who suddenly finds herself at the cockpit and an ex-pilot who only has driven fighter jets before.
February 23, 2017
I like Arthur Hailey's books. I like books about aircrafts. And I like happy-ends.:)
November 24, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this novel about a charter flight being piloted by a former Army pilot who had no experience with flying a passenger aircraft. This person was pressed into service as the captain and first officer, along with several passengers, were poisoned by contaminated codfish that was provided by a caterer unfamiliar to the airline who operated the flight. The former Army pilot was severely stressed as he did everything in his power to ensure that the plane landed safely and that the sickened passengers and crew members were attended to by the physician on board. But the plane crash-landed at the airport. A tale of heroism by an Army veteran who had no experience as an airline pilot.
March 26, 2022
A good read.
This story line has an interest story of its own. The basic plot was first made into a movie -Zero Hour! (1957), later made into a novel Runway Zero-Eight, and then as a parody Airplane! (1980).
Full details are here:
https://reprobatepress.com/2022/02/20...
And interesting movie comparison is found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-v2B...
This story line has an interest story of its own. The basic plot was first made into a movie -Zero Hour! (1957), later made into a novel Runway Zero-Eight, and then as a parody Airplane! (1980).
Full details are here:
https://reprobatepress.com/2022/02/20...
And interesting movie comparison is found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-v2B...
February 11, 2019
Such a fun read! I read this in one day and could not put it down!
August 15, 2025
From 1958 when books were only 25p! another fab charity shop find.A story of a routine flight going terribly wrong
December 22, 2023
Visit JetBlackDragonfly (The Man Who Read Too Much) at www.edenthompson.ca/blog
If you love a thrilling story of a commercial airliner packed with poisoned passengers, trapped on a doomed flight destined to crash, well then, you might need professional help.
I have loved disaster stories of burning buildings, sunken ships, and panic in the skies since I was a kid. Yes, I often watch Airport 77' as it traps the passengers under the Bermuda Triangle.
So reading Runway Zero-Eight was a thrilling treat. It's the classic that inspired them all.
You know the story... At the last minute George Spencer manages to catch an overnight flight from Winnipeg to Vancouver. He's a car salesman who remembers his days as a fighter pilot in the war. Next to him is Dr. Baird, who along with most of the semi-rowdy passengers is off to a BC Lions playoff game the next day. Due to a delay leaving, a different company supplied the meals, so when the pretty stewardess Janet Benson asks if you want fish or lamb, you'd better take the lamb. Everyone who had the fish is quickly infected by page 31 with deadly food poisoning, including the pilot and co-pilot! forcing Dr. Baird to give Janet the long odds: "It means this. Out of a total field of fifty-six our one chance of survival depends on there being a person aboard this airplane who is not only qualified to land it, but who also didn't have fish for dinner tonight."
Paging George Spencer in 12C!
Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge are all socked in with fog, so they press on to Vancouver on auto-pilot. On the ground, the air traffic controllers, the police and fire departments prepare for arrival, including hot shot Captain Treleaven who will talk them down via radio.
Told in just 168 pages, it's tense and exciting right from the beginning - I finished it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. Yes, i've seen it before, but reading the acknowledged original was engrossing and fun. Actually thrilling.
Arthur Hailey (author of Hotel, Wheels, and Airport) wrote this (along with John Castle) while he was living in Canada in the 1950's as a play starring James Doohan called Flight Into Danger for Canadian television. It was then expanded into a book, and since then has been broadcast several times on TV and been the basis for several movies. The most notable is Zero Hour from 1957 starring Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell. In 1980, the parody comedy Airplane! got so close to copying Zero Hour that they bought the rights to the film and included many shot for shot scenes. If you are a film nerd like me, you'll want to see the comparison someone made on YouTube!
Classic.
If you love a thrilling story of a commercial airliner packed with poisoned passengers, trapped on a doomed flight destined to crash, well then, you might need professional help.
I have loved disaster stories of burning buildings, sunken ships, and panic in the skies since I was a kid. Yes, I often watch Airport 77' as it traps the passengers under the Bermuda Triangle.
So reading Runway Zero-Eight was a thrilling treat. It's the classic that inspired them all.
You know the story... At the last minute George Spencer manages to catch an overnight flight from Winnipeg to Vancouver. He's a car salesman who remembers his days as a fighter pilot in the war. Next to him is Dr. Baird, who along with most of the semi-rowdy passengers is off to a BC Lions playoff game the next day. Due to a delay leaving, a different company supplied the meals, so when the pretty stewardess Janet Benson asks if you want fish or lamb, you'd better take the lamb. Everyone who had the fish is quickly infected by page 31 with deadly food poisoning, including the pilot and co-pilot! forcing Dr. Baird to give Janet the long odds: "It means this. Out of a total field of fifty-six our one chance of survival depends on there being a person aboard this airplane who is not only qualified to land it, but who also didn't have fish for dinner tonight."
Paging George Spencer in 12C!
Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge are all socked in with fog, so they press on to Vancouver on auto-pilot. On the ground, the air traffic controllers, the police and fire departments prepare for arrival, including hot shot Captain Treleaven who will talk them down via radio.
Told in just 168 pages, it's tense and exciting right from the beginning - I finished it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. Yes, i've seen it before, but reading the acknowledged original was engrossing and fun. Actually thrilling.
Arthur Hailey (author of Hotel, Wheels, and Airport) wrote this (along with John Castle) while he was living in Canada in the 1950's as a play starring James Doohan called Flight Into Danger for Canadian television. It was then expanded into a book, and since then has been broadcast several times on TV and been the basis for several movies. The most notable is Zero Hour from 1957 starring Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell. In 1980, the parody comedy Airplane! got so close to copying Zero Hour that they bought the rights to the film and included many shot for shot scenes. If you are a film nerd like me, you'll want to see the comparison someone made on YouTube!
Classic.
November 28, 2022
The version I read is from the Reader’s Digest Condensed Books Volume 5 1978, so my review is based on that. Also, there are spoilers.
Flight Into Danger is set in the 1950s, when it was written. It’s important to keep that in mind for the story to work. The way the characters talk and interact is very ‘50s, and some things don’t seem correct, at least if you put them into today’s context. For example, the way the two pilots are talking during the takeoff - today it would be considered a violation of the “sterile cockpit rule.”
When all hell breaks loose and the pilots both pass out from food poisoning, the only passenger who didn’t get sick who also has any flying experience has to step into the pilot’s role. This guy, George, gets assistance from the flight attendant Janet (“stewardess” back in the day). With these two pressed into service as pilots, a doctor and a rowdy soccer fan fill in for the stewardess, tending to the many sick passengers.
For me, the most interesting parts of the story are the scenes when Treleaven, an airline captain rated for the type of aircraft involved in this story, talks George and Janet down via radio. Treleaven is walking them through how to fly the plane, basically. There is some tension because George, an erstwhile fighter pilot, feels utterly unequipped to handle a passenger plane.
The food poisoning outbreak is happening throughout the plane. Much is made about getting these people to a hospital because they’re on the brink of death. When George manages to land the plane, the novel abruptly ends and we don’t even find out if any of the sick people survived. It’s a bit “wham-bam, thank you ma’am” for my tastes.
I wonder what the 2022 take on this story would be? Surely not a food-poisoning angle, since airlines these days don’t serve meals.
Flight Into Danger is set in the 1950s, when it was written. It’s important to keep that in mind for the story to work. The way the characters talk and interact is very ‘50s, and some things don’t seem correct, at least if you put them into today’s context. For example, the way the two pilots are talking during the takeoff - today it would be considered a violation of the “sterile cockpit rule.”
When all hell breaks loose and the pilots both pass out from food poisoning, the only passenger who didn’t get sick who also has any flying experience has to step into the pilot’s role. This guy, George, gets assistance from the flight attendant Janet (“stewardess” back in the day). With these two pressed into service as pilots, a doctor and a rowdy soccer fan fill in for the stewardess, tending to the many sick passengers.
For me, the most interesting parts of the story are the scenes when Treleaven, an airline captain rated for the type of aircraft involved in this story, talks George and Janet down via radio. Treleaven is walking them through how to fly the plane, basically. There is some tension because George, an erstwhile fighter pilot, feels utterly unequipped to handle a passenger plane.
The food poisoning outbreak is happening throughout the plane. Much is made about getting these people to a hospital because they’re on the brink of death. When George manages to land the plane, the novel abruptly ends and we don’t even find out if any of the sick people survived. It’s a bit “wham-bam, thank you ma’am” for my tastes.
I wonder what the 2022 take on this story would be? Surely not a food-poisoning angle, since airlines these days don’t serve meals.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2024
Кратък и завладяващ разказ , за причините , поради които пилотите трябва да се хранят с различна храна :) Класически Артър Хейли - чете се за няколко часа.
May 20, 2022
Годная история, чтобы интересно скоротать вечерок и отвлечься от рутины, переживая за жизни героев.
История банальна до неприличия (хотя это ее не портит). И я почему-то уверена, что, задавшись целью, можно отыскать с дюжину аналогичных/похожих сюжетов.
Пассажирский лайнер терпит бедствие. Пассажиры, включая обоих пилотов, на грани смерти от сильного отправления. И вот дело спасения берут в свои руки добровольцы. Повезло - на борту есть доктор и мужчина, который еще в войну немного управлял самолетами. Пусть маленькими, пусть одномоторными и без пассажиров, но всё же самолетами.
С таким достаточно банальным сюжетом концовка весьма предсказуема, правда? Лично мне чего-то не хватило до полного восторга, поэтому оценка 4,5. Но история однозначно достойна того, чтобы потратить на ее прочтение несколько часов своей жизни.
История банальна до неприличия (хотя это ее не портит). И я почему-то уверена, что, задавшись целью, можно отыскать с дюжину аналогичных/похожих сюжетов.
Пассажирский лайнер терпит бедствие. Пассажиры, включая обоих пилотов, на грани смерти от сильного отправления. И вот дело спасения берут в свои руки добровольцы. Повезло - на борту есть доктор и мужчина, который еще в войну немного управлял самолетами. Пусть маленькими, пусть одномоторными и без пассажиров, но всё же самолетами.
С таким достаточно банальным сюжетом концовка весьма предсказуема, правда? Лично мне чего-то не хватило до полного восторга, поэтому оценка 4,5. Но история однозначно достойна того, чтобы потратить на ее прочтение несколько часов своей жизни.
March 6, 2013
Remember the good old days of flying?
You could smoke on the plane.
Once the plane was on autopilot the captain would leave the cockpit and stroll around the cabin, talking with passengers.
The flight attendant was a beautiful young woman (never a man!) called a “stewardess”
The stewardess actually prepared served a full, hot meal to each passenger
Well, maybe that last part wasn’t so great, at least not in this story, where anyone who ate the salmon quickly became violently ill and incapacitated....including both pilots. This plot makes for an exciting read, even though the mid-1950s dialogue and narrative are hopelessly stilted and full of cliches.
Fun, mindless read ... and very short. You can read this one in a couple of hours, tops.
You could smoke on the plane.
Once the plane was on autopilot the captain would leave the cockpit and stroll around the cabin, talking with passengers.
The flight attendant was a beautiful young woman (never a man!) called a “stewardess”
The stewardess actually prepared served a full, hot meal to each passenger
Well, maybe that last part wasn’t so great, at least not in this story, where anyone who ate the salmon quickly became violently ill and incapacitated....including both pilots. This plot makes for an exciting read, even though the mid-1950s dialogue and narrative are hopelessly stilted and full of cliches.
Fun, mindless read ... and very short. You can read this one in a couple of hours, tops.
February 11, 2021
Proofread for the elementry school library. A very suspenseful book that I found very interesting, I would expect 11+ year olds to enjoy if they can wade through a bit of complicated flying lingo. It's a good clean book other then a few swears in the scary moments.
A plane flying to Vancouver flies into disaster when the pilot and several passengers are struck violently with food poisoning. A docter and an old ex-fighter pilot try to keep the plane in the air and the passengers well as ground crews scramble to prepare. But the food poisoning is quickly killing the victims, and there is nothing the doctor can do. The new pilot hasn't flown for 13 years, and then he only flew single engine fighters. The pilot talking him down doesn't think he has a chance. Does he?
A plane flying to Vancouver flies into disaster when the pilot and several passengers are struck violently with food poisoning. A docter and an old ex-fighter pilot try to keep the plane in the air and the passengers well as ground crews scramble to prepare. But the food poisoning is quickly killing the victims, and there is nothing the doctor can do. The new pilot hasn't flown for 13 years, and then he only flew single engine fighters. The pilot talking him down doesn't think he has a chance. Does he?
October 24, 2020
Mehmanxanadan çıxıb yavaş-yavaş hava limanına doğru gedirik. Daha bir kitabı bitirdikdən sonra Xeylinin niyə sevildiyini anlayıram. Süjetin reallığı. Oxuduqca, bunun insanın başına gələ biləcək real hadisə olacağını düşünməmək əldə deyil (Kitabın süjetində fakt səhvi olduğunu bilməyim məni üzür, spoyler olmasın deyə qeyd etmirəm, amma uçuş zamanı bu cür problemin yaşanması ehtimalı həddən artıq azdır. Amma olmasın bu olsun başqa, kitabın ləzzətini pozmur). Yenə qəhrəmanlarımız üçün narahat oluruq, çünki kitab boyu onların həyatı, ailələri, işi barədə qısa, az da olsa məlumat alırıq, onların kimliyini göz önünə gəlir. Sona qədər oxucu həyəcanda qalır. #birnəfəsə
July 15, 2021
La verdad es que me gustó mucho más de lo que esperaba. Es algo predecible y una historia que en estos tiempos puede ya considerarse como una fantasía clásica de terror verdadero y un miedo que se experimentaba mucho cuando los aviones recién comenzaban a utilizarse para líneas comerciales.
Corto, pero bastante entretenido. Me gustó mucho y me tuvo al filo del asiento hasta las últimas páginas.
Corto, pero bastante entretenido. Me gustó mucho y me tuvo al filo del asiento hasta las últimas páginas.
August 26, 2015
I really liked this book, I found the beginning a little slow but after that I couldn't wait to see how it ended. I haven't read Airport yet but I can't wait to read that as everyone says Airport is even better!
May 17, 2025
Nostalgia read. I read this book in high school when it came out and was terrified. Flying was for a select few back then. Had to read-read it. So much fun, but definitely dated, sexist and light. Still fun as a nostalgia trip.
November 27, 2012
It was interesting to read this and see what Hailey was like as a young writer. The dialogue is quite frankly,ludicrous. A quick read but not a very memorable one.
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