Rapid Descent

Boston Harbor's dark waters flow over busy tunnels and under the flight path of planes landing and taking off at Logan International Airport. It is the setting for J P Polidoro's gripping disaster that reads like nonfiction. While traffic is backed up in the tunnels, and a party boat enjoys a "booze cruise" in the moonlight, a North East Air commuter prepares to depart for a short flight to Manchester, New Hampshire. Shortly after takeoff, Flight 2158 has engine trouble, and the pilots of the stricken plane attempt to gain control and return to Logan. The plane's fate sets in motion a series of events that test the capabilities and courage of emergency workers, the airport tower, engineers and ordinary persons. At the heart of Polidoro's chilling story is a Boston triangle of love and jealousy.