Sovereign

November 1985 – An EgyptAir airliner is forced to land in Malta, its passengers caught between armed hijackers and clashing superpowers. In the control tower, Malta’s Prime Minister faces impossible choices — decisions that will define his country’s sovereignty, his own legacy and seal the fate of over ninety souls on board.
SOVEREIGN is a gripping dramatisation inspired by the true hijack of Flight MS 648 — a moment when politics, ideology, and human survival collided. With the dialogue between the control tower and terrorists drawn from actual court transcripts, it immerses readers in the tension of a nation pushed to its limits.

Perfect for fans of political thrillers, historical dramas, and true-event fiction, this novel shines light on a tragedy the world should not forget.
Readers will find:
• A fast-paced dramatisation built on historical truth.
• A rare glimpse into the days when Malta was caught between Libya and Western Powers, mainly the USA.
• A portrait of leadership under extraordinary pressure.

Excerpt from Author’s Note
This book is written to preserve crucial facts about the hijack that risk being forgotten as the decades pass. History cannot afford selective memory. Only by confronting uncomfortable realities can similar tragedies be prevented; otherwise, history is destined to repeat itself.

It is, of course, easy to criticize others after a stressful event. Yet once you place yourself in another’s shoes, facing the same emergency, you may also find yourself equally prone to mistakes. At the same time, human beings are vulnerable to biases — hidden or otherwise — that can sway decisions when they should not. I believe a hard line must be drawn whenever human lives are at stake.

My research reveals a blurred line of responsibility that may have contributed to the disastrous outcome. Although I have taken creative license to dramatize certain scenes in this novel — solely to capture the spirit of the real event — many facts remain untouched and unembellished.

On the island republic of Malta, where I was born, almost anything said or done becomes quickly politicized, because the nation remains deeply divided. I therefore expect that some fierce partisans will find — or even create — excuses to deny the facts underpinning the disastrous outcome.

My hope is that readers approach this novel not only as a gripping story but also as an opportunity to reflect, without bias, on the decisions that shaped this event. The lessons of this tragedy extend far beyond Malta. Across the world, lives remain endangered whenever politics outweighs the simple, universal right to life.

Even now, in 2025, major conflicts rage across three continents — conflicts in which political idealism, sometimes unintentionally, is placed above humanity, condemning the innocent to poverty or death. May this book encourage you to pause, reflect, and remember.