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Flight 3430 #1

Flight 3430

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In a small Montana town, it takes four minutes for every man, woman and child to die.

It isn’t a virus or biological attack, but rather the beginning of a geological event that triggers a chain reaction across the globe with devastating effects.

A repeat of an extinction event that occurred millions of years earlier.

There is no stopping it. The only way to survive is to stay ahead of it.

Tom Foster hasn’t flown in decades, yet, he sets his fear aside for a vacation with his grown sons. When the global catastrophe begins, Tom and his sons are in the safest place they could possibly be … thirty thousand feet above the ground.

No matter the sacrifice, keeping his family alive is his number one priority and the only way to do that … is not to land until it is safe.

With billions dying on the ground, it’s a race to achieve the impossible because there is no other alternative if they want to live.

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2020

588 people are currently reading
129 people want to read

About the author

Jacqueline Druga

239 books583 followers

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5 stars
390 (45%)
4 stars
297 (35%)
3 stars
120 (14%)
2 stars
28 (3%)
1 star
13 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 7, 2025
Omg, what a brilliant book. I could not put it down. As soon as I saw the cover and title I knew it was for me to read. Every page flowed seamlessly. I loved the characters so much and they were so realistic. When they were in situations that they shouldn't be it was so stressful. I just loved this book, nothing to do with punctuation it's the writing and the story that should be graded. The best bit is that this is the first book I've read by this author so I'm loving life.
Profile Image for Pam Shelton-Anderson.
1,968 reviews67 followers
August 10, 2021
This author excels in unique twists to the apocalypse. It prompted me to read more about limnic eruptions and they are rather scary. There were quite a lot of editing issues, especially with grammar and punctuation (and example using "not" instead of "naught"). With better editing, these books would be a 5 star nearly every time. Nonetheless, this was a very good standalone story.
Profile Image for Paul (Life In The Slow Lane).
883 reviews67 followers
May 1, 2025
Earth farts. 6th Extinction happens. Dogs get blame.

Saturn and Jupiter are off to the "Free refried beans night" at the local galactic Mexican food joint. They look at poor little Earth and decide to invite her along. Poor little Earth's gut is just not equipped to handle that many beans. A giant planet-wide rumbling happens followed by a global emission of methane gas (fart). Several more follow and literally kill most of us off. (Reminds me of school camp.)

I wish a bit more editing and scientific research had gone into this story. Methane gas erupts and almost instantly wipes out a whole town by asphyxiation. Trouble is...methane is lighter than air and would simply keep on heading upwards instead of outwards. It's also flammable and would instantly catch fire and burn away to just CO2 and H2O. The CO2 IS heavier than air and could asphyxiate a lot of us humans. Probably good for the planet in the long-run. Mother Earth would be thinking, "That'll show the little fuckers whose boss around here." Also, the author has people literally dropping dead from asphyxiation and yet, we have characters hopping on a jet and starting it up and taking off! Umm...jet engines need oxygen too author, and if they don't have it...nothing!

Unfortunately, you have to wrap ALL your disbelief up into a tight little ball, insert it inside a soccer ball and kick that ball into the hot part of a nuclear reactor. It's just all too far fetched, and too poorly edited for me to get any real enjoyment out of this story. If your imaginations are made of super soft stretchy rubber, then you might like it. For me it's barely worth two stars.
Profile Image for MBenzz.
928 reviews2 followers
November 2, 2020
Methane build-ups and explosions.

Thank you, Mrs. Druga, for giving me yet ANOTHER thing to be terrified of.

If anyone can write an end-of-the-world book, it's Jackie Druga. I flew through this book. The best thing about a Druga book is the action. She doesn't bog it down with all the mind-numbing family background and drama. Sure, she gives us SOME background; otherwise, we wouldn't be invested in the characters, but she gives us the perfect amount...letting us care about the characters, but not becoming bored with them, and NEVER skimping on the action.

How many apocalypse movies are out there about a fractured family (usually from the POV of the divorced dad) trying to save their family and avoid death in whatever scenario is ending the world, only for them all to survive (usually escaping a LOT of close-calls), learn to love one another again and all live happily ever after in whatever is left of the earth (I'm looking at you 2012, San Andreas, The Day After Tomorrow, Geo Storm, etc.)? What I love about those movies are the special effects and crazy destruction...what I hate about them is the sappy family background.

If you're like me and just want action, then Jackie Druga is your gal. Pretty much ANY book of hers is awesome, but this is a great one to start with...to really get a feel for the type of author she is. As usual, it ended too soon, and I can't wait for the next one. I wonder what crazy earth-ending phenomenon she'll come up with next to terrify us all!
Profile Image for Curt.
279 reviews11 followers
February 8, 2021
Okay, some reviews were critical of grammar and punctuation errors. To those folks, you are really going to nit-pic of grammar or typos? You are wound way too tight.

I enjoyed this book. Shakespeare? No. If I wanted that level of writing then I might have picked up an Atwood novel. This was pure entertainment. Fast reading, lots of action, world calamity, and a satisfying ending. The characters are developed enough - enough to care how they make out but not so much that we spend half the book developing the characters.

So we follow a divorced man (Tom) and his adult sons as they originally plan on a trip to Vegas, when the SHTF. Fortunately, Tom's brother-in-law works for the USGS and is able to monitor the methane events and give Tom a heads up so that he can convince the pilot of the issue and that landing would be a bad thing. With Gene's help, the plan hops from airport to airport (where the worst has passed), refuel, and take off again.

Of course, while everybody in the impacted areas is dead, the tech still works. That makes some sense because we are not talking about huge infrastructure damage - and the automated power and cell keeps working - for a while anyway.

One thing that was missing was personal, non-brother/sister relationships. This is all about a dad and his son. They have no girlfriends (or boyfriends) with them. And unlike some other books/movies, the focus remains on keeping themselves from dying. So there are no lovey/dovey scenes or tears when your girlfriend or boyfriend dies. I think there could have been a bit of that to raise the angst level - but others might not miss it.

I have read a few of Druga's books and I think I will keep reading. Good book.
545 reviews3 followers
December 27, 2020
great story line

Loved the story. Methane gas is being released all over the world through eruptions in the earth's surface. A man and his two grown sons had set out on a trip to Las Vegas, and detours were required to keep all the people on the plane safe. They meet and befriend another man and a woman along the way and their lives are thus intertwined.
I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 because the editing was atrocious. Sentences that made little sense and the misuse of words were very distracting. Fine tuned, this could be a five star beaut.
55 reviews
August 29, 2021
Not what I thought it was going to be

This book is not a 5 on my scale, but I have very few 5's. Who woke have thought methane would be the cause of an apocalypse? I loved the imagination that brought this book to being. The characters were believable... no superheroes or macho men in this story...only real people who respond the best they can. Nothing unbelievable, other than the science, perhaps. But, that's what makes this a very readable book. When I finished, I was looking to see if there might be a sequel. I f so, I would be the first in line to read it.
2 reviews
August 29, 2021
Fast paced

I picked this book and started reading it and at first I couldn't get into it.. I have to be honest, I broke my phone and only have my tablet to read on. I found I didn't have internet this morning and was stuck reading what was already downloaded. So what the heck, I gave it another shot. And wow, I'm glad I did. I got so emotionally attached to the characters and even mourned the ones who didn't make it. Jacqueline Drugs is a fantastic author and I look forward to the next book.
182 reviews1 follower
December 16, 2020
Thrilling read

I do enjoy the post apocalyptic stories without the end goal of stopping what is occurring. That is the ones that are not man made and have a solution. I like the character driven ones that are about how the people endure and survive against all odds or not. Not trying to be sexist but It seems the ones that fit these parameters are written by women. That’s a longwinded way of saying I really enjoyed this story and was invested in the characters. Very thrilling
Profile Image for jboyg.
425 reviews4 followers
February 1, 2021
Hell Of A Story.

Druga has crafted a slam bang action novel set in an end of the world catastrophe scenario as a plane of refugees battles to stay one step ahead of tsunamis, earthquakes, deadly methane emissions, etc, as the world goes to hell in a handbasket. Strong characters, propulsive plot, and a gripping story. There's a lot to like here and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Profile Image for Robin.
258 reviews1 follower
December 26, 2021
Interesting premise

I'm not sure that what occurs in this novel would be possible in reality, but if you overlook that, it's a good story.

Lots of death and destruction due to multiple methane explosions... this story follows a group of USGS geologists and a planeload of people as they witness the end of the world.

It seems rather far-fetched to me, especially as the numerous catastrophes continue, but I did like the characters.
6,248 reviews40 followers
May 28, 2022
The book is about massive methane eruptions from the soil which results in vast numbers of people being killed. There are some people in a plane that is flying and are not affected by the methane since they are far above it.

The problem for them is that there is only so much fuel so they will have to somehow land a plane, refuel it and take off again before there's another eruption of the methane. It's a thriller of a story with a lot of tenseness and bravery.
10 reviews
June 2, 2022
I really, really like reading Jacqueline Druga's books. This was no exception. She has a way of telling/writing about end of the world events that make it feel like you are reading something very brand new. I felt very invested with some of our characters (Tom, Owen, and Gabe) and enjoyed reading their character growth. Couldn't help crying at the end (even though I knew what was coming). Looking forward to reading book 2 and continue the story of these brothers.
Profile Image for Kathy.
430 reviews1 follower
October 29, 2020
I loved this!! It scared me because it is the it could really happen. Our planet is fighting back. Earth can only take so much. The idea the author has is a valid one. Methane gas. Now, the characters are well written. Just brilliant. I hope there is a book 2. Want to see how our characters are doing. I highly recommend this book.
( I have problems leaving reviews as I don’t do spoilers. )
Profile Image for Jennifer Zapata.
29 reviews
November 12, 2020
Great story!

Wow! Did not want to put this down till it was finished! Love the natural disaster type stories and this didn’t fail to entertain as well. Father and sons caught together in this disaster, stuck on a plane with many others, with only contact to one person who knows what’s going on. Could totally picture this as I read, wishing it was a movie as well!
Profile Image for Cassandra Stryffe.
88 reviews6 followers
November 16, 2020
Fantastic!

Great book! I loved the characters, the apocalypse was one I've never seen before, the action was tense, and I was left simultaneously satisfied and somehow still wanting more. I have no idea how MS Druga does it, but I'm seriously in awe of her skills. Amazing writer.
570 reviews3 followers
December 1, 2020
Excellent read

All of Ms. Druga's books have a message of hope but, like life, there is a lot of darkness and sadness on the journey there. This book stayed true to that message. It was a great book, well written and with characters that were interesting and fun to get to know. This is one of my new favorites!
1,015 reviews12 followers
February 6, 2021
A most unusual apocalypse

This was a most enjoyable story about a most unusual apocalypse. Massive eruptions of methane gas, and more as the earth reacts to that. Tom and his sons are an interesting family and the dynamic is very natural. They step in to help the plane load of passengers to survive. Is there another book? That would be great!
769 reviews2 followers
April 22, 2021
Good story

Good story, stupid characters. I can't stand it when a character repeatedly does stupid things. It is conceivably the end of civilization and people have to go to see their dead family members. Or arguing about the decision to remove dead bodies from view. Very annoying and distracts the reader.
57 reviews3 followers
July 22, 2021
Great action story I

Interesting look at how a father and his sons work to survive in a disaster.l liked that there was no profanity or sexual content.i like a book that doesn't end in a cliffhanger so don't have to wait months to to see how ends but did leave open for a secuel in future .
Profile Image for Kadlin.
150 reviews2 followers
January 26, 2024
Worth a read.

Gabe’s boot sank in the thick mud that was at least eight inches deep. When it did, he hit a board, causing it to flip upward, with it a small wrestling action figure. “Whoa, what is this?” Gabe reached down for it and lifted it. He cleared the dirt from the figure and stared at it wondering if it perhaps belonged to one of Delaney’s children. He wouldn’t know.
213 reviews
November 18, 2020
What rollercoaster ride

Let me say that this book really was emotional it was fast paced exciting happy sad had me on the edge of my seat couldn't put the book down finished it in one day I loved it and you'll love it to
116 reviews
November 23, 2020
Good read for an evening

The story line is well done and the people were well developed. The science was good except for one issue. Planes need oxygen just as much as people. Ignore that and enjoy the story.
168 reviews1 follower
November 29, 2020
Mother nature...

Hmmm... The story was so believable and sad. Mother Nature will eventually get tired of humanity and set things right. Delaney was right. As parents we will always make sure our children be ok. We will always want closure.
88 reviews2 followers
December 11, 2020
Pretty good...something g new

Good characters, nice writing style. Nothing over the top as far as violence, fore or swearing. There was a light at the end of the tunnel. Pick up a copy, it's a quick read and good story line.
170 reviews2 followers
December 17, 2020
Dozens of punctuation and other errors made this a painful read.

I recently completed a course in proofreading, but have not 'gone into business' yet. Although I liked the story, at the 50 percent point I had to make myself finish reading.
Profile Image for Paul Madsen.
511 reviews5 followers
December 22, 2020
Stay flying or die

An interesting new take on the end of the world gendre. This time Mother Nature is the protagonist throwing methane at the world. Our main plot follows a flight in the air who must stay up trying to stay alive. This could make a big screen movie.
291 reviews1 follower
January 29, 2021
Another Winner

This book was very interesting and had a different concept of TEOTWAWKI. The characters were good, I wish Gary had more of a conclusion. The plot was well written and it was clean though not without tragedy. Well worth a read.
848 reviews4 followers
February 3, 2021
5 Stars

When methane gas starts erupting all over the globe. The only safe place to be is on a plane high above the fumes. Flight 3430 is in the air trying to find a safe place to land. Easier said than done. This book was very entertaining better than I expected.
Profile Image for Amy G.
20 reviews
February 4, 2021
Great story, desperately in need of an editor.

I feel like even having a somewhat literate friend do a read through would be a benefit. So many errors, I gave up reporting them. It's a great story, unique. But man. Editing is half the story!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews

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