David Gero assembles a list of major air disasters since the 1950s across a wide spectrum of countries. He investigates every type of calamity, including those caused by appalling weather, mechanical failure, pilot error, inhospitable terrain and hostile action. The first incident of sabotage involving a commercial jetliner is covered, as is the first, much-feared crash of the jumbo jet era. High-profile episodes such as that of Pan American Flight 103 at Lockerbie in 1988 and the Twin Towers tragedy of 11 September 2001 are examined alongside less well-known disasters. An overview of the history of air passenger travel over the decades provides context, contrasting the rise of the threat of terrorism since the 1970s with the improvements rooted in the massively increased technological safeguards now available. The positive aspects of these tragedies are examined, such as the development of the many new technologies that help civil aviation authorities to prevent or minimize risks. Sophisticated control, navigation and safety aids have now become available to airlines, many having arisen directly from the recommendations of investigating boards.