From Hero to Zero: The truth behind the ditching of DC-3, VH-EDC in Botany Bay that saved 25 lives

On 24 April 1994, long before "Sully" became famous for ditching a plane into America's Hudson River, all 25 souls on board were saved when a pilot was forced to ditch a DC-3 aircraft into Australia's own Botany Bay after encountering problems just seconds after taking off from Sydney Airport.

The pilot, now retired Captain Rod Lovell, published a book detailing the truth behind the ditching and blowing the whistle on his treatment by the authorities which crushed him financially and destroyed his professional flying career. The controversial story highlights 25 years of frustration and persecution.

Lovell, who now lives in South Australia, had his licence suspended, losing his earning ability and suffered years of battling to fight the system and prove that the aircraft itself was a safety risk.

The very authorities who investigated the crash and suspended Lovell's licence were the same, or linked to those also responsible for giving the all clear for the aircraft he was piloting to be in the air.

"I effectively became the sacrificial lamb in a government cover-up to ensure blame was deflected away from those actually responsible for the safety of the passengers. Some years later the aircraft was proven to be unflyable." Lovell says.

In this book the author reveals the REAL reasons the aircraft would not fly on one engine.

2020 marks the 26th anniversary of the ditching of the plane just 46 seconds after engine failure on take-off.

Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) had 2 years.

Sully had 208 seconds.

Captain Rod Lovell had 46 seconds.