SOLVED. Childrens? Book about 4 or 5 children involved in a plane hijacking. [s]

[Mantrahalos]

I read this many times when I was about 9 or 10... So about 30/31 years ago.

I can remember there were two Irish siblings with red hair- maybe their surname was tierney.
a hijacker called Omar. The hijackers tried to blow the plane up after they had landed it but the children cut the cable to the dynamite.
The book cover was orange ( at least my version was)

I'd love to find a copy of this book again.

Thanks.

Mantrahalos.

[bookel]

Danger down under by Cindy Savage? OK not that ... it's from 1992. Yours was published 1984 or earlier?

[Mantrahalos]

Hi thanks for the response. Not danger down under.

I think it would have been pre 1984- I've been trying to recall the title of this book for many years now, and only just found this site- hopefully someone will know it.

[Kate]

Something by Enid Blyton? One of her books had 4-5 children taken on a plane. I don't remember which one.

[Mantrahalos]

Not Enid Blyton - she was my favourite author at the time though and I read all her books!

[Tab]

Did the entire story take place on the plane?
Were the siblings a pair of brothers, sisters, or a brother&sister?

Do you remember where the plane took off and where it was headed?

Sounds like an interesting book.

[Mantrahalos]

I don't remember a huge amount more than what is posted above. - I do recall the hijackers turned the plane around in a huge arc so that the passengers did not notice they were changing course, but one of the children saw the same boat in the sea on the other side of the plane and was telling a stewardess that they had turned around- she didn't believe him of course. - they also took their seatbelts off for the landing hoping that the hijackers would lose their balance during landing and they could spring forward and grab their knives/guns ( cannot recall which) - - it may be the sort of book that when you see now seems really quite short, but at the time it always felt an achievement getting to the end. - remember reading it on a plane on a family holiday and my mind working overtime on what if it actually happened. - if Anyone has any idea of the name of this please let me know- I'd love to share this with my children.

[Kris]

"The [Famous] Five and the Hijackers by Claude Voilier?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Famous-Five-H...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Hijacker...

[Mantrahalos]

Thanks for the post kris- not that one though.

[Mantrahalos]

Hi all-thought I'd bump this as I still have not found the book, and was hoping someone may recall it -

Thanks -

Mantrahalos.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Hijacked!?

When Jason Wright, fourteen-year-old potential Olympic swimmer, ends his holiday visit to his parents in Hong Kong early to return to school in England, his plane is hijacked, apparently, by members of the Japanese Rengo Sekigun (United Red Army of Lod Airport infamy). They land on a strip of beach in Thailand, and after watching the hijackers brutalize other passengers and crew members, Jason determines to try to get help, escaping through a lavatory panel into the sea. Jason is forced to kill a pursuer with a fortuitously found dart gun; he later joins the Thai in charge of operations, two Japanese detectives, and English communications and airline representatives. The author is meticulous in detailing every contingency and convolution, almost as if he were afraid Jason's involvement would otherwise seem implausible. The result is a surprisingly unsensationalized adventure.

Pub date is 1975.

[Mantrahalos]

Hi Lobstergirl - thanks for the post - Not that one though -

Mantrahalos

[Ayshe]

"The kidnapping of Penelope Stewart"?
While aboard a plane to London, the Stewart twins unwittingly become involved in a diamond smuggling case. http://www.worldcat.org/title/kidnapp...
I can't find any seller or library information for this though.

[Mantrahalos]

Hi Ayshe - Imagine my excitement when a thread and a website I had forgotten all about, pinged up in my email to say there had been a response!

Sadly - Not the book I'm after though!

I know the book was not imaginary - I'd love to find a copy of it somehow.

[Rainbowheart]

Just guesses....

Sky-jacked!
Flight to Fear
Terror in Cairo

That's all I can find with airplane hijackings pre-'84. You mentioned the twins were Irish. Did the book seem like it had been pubbed in Ireland?

[bookel]

http://www.librarything.com/work/2183...
Flight to terror by Dayle Courtney is another.

[Rainbowheart]

Flight To Terror might be promising. Alison and Eric are twins. Book is from a series called the Thorne Twins.

[Simon]

Hi Mantrahalos,

You're definitely not imagining the book! I've been looking for it for years too...

think I read it in the early 80s, library book, orange cover, menacing black illustrations...

can't remember the title, although I think it might have had 'something on Flight xxx' feel to it...

have you had any more luck?

best wishes,

Simon

[bookel]

Flight to fear by Tom Bellina cover. https://books.google.com.au/books/abo...

[Rosa]

Flight to Fear for the link.

[Tab]

Maybe, "Hijacked!" by Galila Ben-Uri?
Here is the link on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Hijacked-Galil...

[Jodie]

I'm also looking for this book. For some reason, I believe it may have been part of a series featuring a gang of kids who called themselves the 'Tiger Gang'? I thought the title went something like 'The Tiger Gang rides again' ?

[Simon]

Jodie wrote: "I'm also looking for this book. For some reason, I believe it may have been part of a series featuring a gang of kids who called themselves the 'Tiger Gang'? I thought the title went something like..."

Interesting Jodie! There's a book caller Tiger Gang and the Hijackers which *might* be it! Author is Dafne Bidwell.

Orange cover? Check. 70s illustrations check.

Intriguing enough that I've ordered a copy - will post again once it's arrived and I've read it.

S

[Rosa]

Tiger Gang and the Hijackers for the link.

[Simon]

Tiger Gang and the Hijackers arrived this morning - and it is 100% the right book! The 1976 edition has the orange cover that I remember...

Mantrahalos: Tierney surname and Omar the hijacker both correct.

Thanks Jodie for the nudge in the right direction!

Simon

[Rainbowheart]

Yay, glad this one is solved!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Hopefully the OP will come back and see this.

[Andrew]

Hi I also remember a book similar to this, but they landed on a small island. The children were on their way to their Grandmothers place. When the plane landed, they managed to escape up a mountain and an illustration showed them being followed by a man with a mule / donkey.
They also found the plane was turning in a circle, one of the children used a small compass he had with him and also passed over a boat. If this is the book I'm describing, please let me know, I never did finish reading it.

[Rainbowheart]

Andrew, you'll want to create a separate post if you're looking for a different book.

[Mantrahalos]

Wow - just wow -

I am back - I was at a loose end tonight and thought i'd have another search for this book - I came across this thread I started years ago.
This has made me so happy. Serously - thank you so much Jodie and Simon.
I actually am so excited reading this thread tonight.

I'll be trying to source a copy of the book to read - luckily my 10 year old daughter has the reading bug too, and I am sure she will also love reading it.

Again - thank to all involved here.

Charlie - formerly mantrahalos :)