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Sovereign: A true story hijacking thriller based on the worst hijack-rescue in aviation history.
A political thriller based on real events.
"As compelling as any Hollywood thriller..." - Daniel Rosenthal, former editor of the Variety International Film Guide.
November 1985 - An EgyptAir airliner is forced to land in Malta, its passengers caught between armed hijackers and clashing superpowers. In the control tower, Malta’s Prime Minister faces impossible choices — decisions that will define his country’s sovereignty, his own legacy and seal the fate of over ninety souls on board.
SOVEREIGN is a gripping dramatisation inspired by the true hijack of Flight MS 648 — a moment when politics, ideology, and human survival collided. With the dialogue between the control tower and terrorists drawn from actual court transcripts, it immerses readers in the tension of a nation pushed to its limits.
Perfect for fans of political thrillers, historical dramas, and true-event fiction, this novel shines light on a tragedy the world should not forget.
Readers will
A fast-paced dramatisation built on historical truth.
A rare glimpse into the days when Malta was caught between Libya and Western powers, namely the USA.
A portrait of leadership under extraordinary pressure.
Excerpt from Author's Note
This book was written with one clear to preserve the crucial facts of the hijack that risk being forgotten as the decades pass. History cannot afford selective memory. Only by confronting uncomfortable truths can similar tragedies be prevented — for when we turn away from them, history inevitably repeats itself.
It is, of course, easy to judge others after a crisis. Yet once you place yourself in another’s shoes, facing the same emergency, you may discover how easily any of us can falter. Human beings are imperfect; we are all vulnerable to biases — hidden or otherwise — that can distort judgement when they should not. Still, a hard line must always be drawn whenever human lives are at stake.
My years of intensive research into this hijack reveal a blurred line of responsibility that likely contributed to its disastrous outcome. Although I have taken creative license to dramatise certain scenes in this novel, solely to capture the spirit of the real events, many facts remain untouched and unembellished.
On the island republic of Malta, where I was born, almost anything said or done becomes quickly politicised, for the nation remains deeply divided. I fully expect that some will seek, or even invent, reasons to dispute the facts that underpin this tragic episode.
My hope is that readers approach this novel not only as a gripping story but also as an opportunity to reflect, without bias, on the decisions that shaped this event. The lessons of this tragedy extend far beyond Malta. Across the world, lives remain endangered whenever politics outweighs the simple, universal right to life. Even now, in 2025, major conflicts rage across three continents — conflicts in which political idealism, sometimes unintentionally, is placed above humanity, condemning the innocent to poverty or death.
About the Author
Malcolm Scerri Ferrante is a film producer and journalistic writer with extensive international credits to acclaimed productions such as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Making of a God.
"As compelling as any Hollywood thriller..." - Daniel Rosenthal, former editor of the Variety International Film Guide.
November 1985 - An EgyptAir airliner is forced to land in Malta, its passengers caught between armed hijackers and clashing superpowers. In the control tower, Malta’s Prime Minister faces impossible choices — decisions that will define his country’s sovereignty, his own legacy and seal the fate of over ninety souls on board.
SOVEREIGN is a gripping dramatisation inspired by the true hijack of Flight MS 648 — a moment when politics, ideology, and human survival collided. With the dialogue between the control tower and terrorists drawn from actual court transcripts, it immerses readers in the tension of a nation pushed to its limits.
Perfect for fans of political thrillers, historical dramas, and true-event fiction, this novel shines light on a tragedy the world should not forget.
Readers will
A fast-paced dramatisation built on historical truth.
A rare glimpse into the days when Malta was caught between Libya and Western powers, namely the USA.
A portrait of leadership under extraordinary pressure.
Excerpt from Author's Note
This book was written with one clear to preserve the crucial facts of the hijack that risk being forgotten as the decades pass. History cannot afford selective memory. Only by confronting uncomfortable truths can similar tragedies be prevented — for when we turn away from them, history inevitably repeats itself.
It is, of course, easy to judge others after a crisis. Yet once you place yourself in another’s shoes, facing the same emergency, you may discover how easily any of us can falter. Human beings are imperfect; we are all vulnerable to biases — hidden or otherwise — that can distort judgement when they should not. Still, a hard line must always be drawn whenever human lives are at stake.
My years of intensive research into this hijack reveal a blurred line of responsibility that likely contributed to its disastrous outcome. Although I have taken creative license to dramatise certain scenes in this novel, solely to capture the spirit of the real events, many facts remain untouched and unembellished.
On the island republic of Malta, where I was born, almost anything said or done becomes quickly politicised, for the nation remains deeply divided. I fully expect that some will seek, or even invent, reasons to dispute the facts that underpin this tragic episode.
My hope is that readers approach this novel not only as a gripping story but also as an opportunity to reflect, without bias, on the decisions that shaped this event. The lessons of this tragedy extend far beyond Malta. Across the world, lives remain endangered whenever politics outweighs the simple, universal right to life. Even now, in 2025, major conflicts rage across three continents — conflicts in which political idealism, sometimes unintentionally, is placed above humanity, condemning the innocent to poverty or death.
About the Author
Malcolm Scerri Ferrante is a film producer and journalistic writer with extensive international credits to acclaimed productions such as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Making of a God.
155 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 20, 2026
“The Sovereign” sheds light on an event that is both highly gripping and of significant historical importance, particularly in Malta. Yet it has received relatively little attention in the public perception of terrorism in the 1970s and 1980s. This focus alone makes the book particularly valuable.
Scerri’s narrative style can best be described as a documentary-style narrative: combining meticulous research with a dense, almost thriller-like storytelling approach. This allows you to step directly into the shoes of the individuals involved, to empathize with them, and to experience the mounting tension and nervousness of the situation almost firsthand.
In the end, the book left a deep impression on me - if not a sense of sheer disbelief—at how the events unfold through a combination of human weakness, inexperience, and vanity. It is precisely this unflinching portrayal that made “The Sovereign” such a compelling and thought-provoking read for me.
Scerri’s narrative style can best be described as a documentary-style narrative: combining meticulous research with a dense, almost thriller-like storytelling approach. This allows you to step directly into the shoes of the individuals involved, to empathize with them, and to experience the mounting tension and nervousness of the situation almost firsthand.
In the end, the book left a deep impression on me - if not a sense of sheer disbelief—at how the events unfold through a combination of human weakness, inexperience, and vanity. It is precisely this unflinching portrayal that made “The Sovereign” such a compelling and thought-provoking read for me.
April 7, 2026
I had to force myself to stop reading through the night! An impressive retelling of the story, made all the more real through the use of the actual dialogue from the control tower recordings.
This story is also a revealing insight into the consequences of politicians making a choice between serving the people and serving the system.
This story is also a revealing insight into the consequences of politicians making a choice between serving the people and serving the system.
February 17, 2026
Thrilling read. Got through it in 2 days. It’s very well written. It really makes you stop and think ‘what if?’
November 24, 2025
love it
I read this in two sittings. Its gripping and an absolute page turner.....it felt like watching a movie. Pity for the sad ending. But what a cautionary tale.
I read this in two sittings. Its gripping and an absolute page turner.....it felt like watching a movie. Pity for the sad ending. But what a cautionary tale.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews