Scapegoat: A Flight Crew's Journey from Heroes to Villains to Redemption

In 1983, TWA Flight 841 experienced a near-catastrophic incident during a routine flight from New York to Minneapolis. The Boeing 727 went into an uncontrolled roll at 39,000 feet, and only through the crew's actions did the plane and its passengers survive. The aftermath transformed the flight crew from celebrated heroes into suspected villains as investigators focused on pilot error as the cause. Author Emilio Corsetti III chronicles the decade-long investigation, the crew's fight to clear their names, and the competing theories about what really occurred on that flight. The book draws from official records, interviews, and technical data to reconstruct both the incident and the investigation process. Corsetti presents multiple perspectives from aviation experts, investigators, and the flight crew members whose careers and lives were impacted by the event. This detailed examination of TWA Flight 841 raises questions about aviation investigation methods and the human cost of assigning blame in the wake of air incidents. The narrative demonstrates how conclusions drawn from incomplete evidence can have lasting consequences for those involved.

Readers describe this as a detailed investigation of TWA Flight 841's near-crash and the aftermath for its crew members. Many note the thorough research and documentation that reconstructs both the technical aspects and human impact. Positives from reviews: - Clear explanation of complex aviation concepts - Balanced presentation of multiple perspectives - Strong pacing that maintains tension - Effective use of primary sources and interviews Common criticisms: - Technical details occasionally overwhelm the narrative - Some repetition of information - A few readers found the ending unsatisfying Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (126 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (168 ratings) One reader noted: "Reads like a legal thriller but it's all true." Another commented: "The author lets readers draw their own conclusions rather than pushing an agenda." Several reviewers mentioned the book changed their perspective on aviation investigations and media coverage of accidents.

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🛫 TWA Flight 841's spiral dive of 39,000 feet in just 44 seconds set a record for the fastest recorded descent survived by a commercial airliner. ✈️ Author Emilio Corsetti III spent over five years researching the incident, conducting interviews with crew members, and reviewing more than 5,000 pages of documents. ⚖️ The flight crew fought a 10-year legal battle to clear their names after being wrongly accused of causing the near-fatal incident through reckless cockpit procedures. 🔍 The NTSB's original investigation concluded with findings that contradicted both the physical evidence and multiple eyewitness accounts of the incident. 🏆 The book received the 2017 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal in the Transportation category and was named a Finalist in the 2017 International Book Awards.