Broken Wings - Andersen H. Nattanya

Following an in-flight engine explosion, senior flight attendant Nattanya Andersen was diagnosed by the airline's medical team with a lasting condition of post-traumatic stress disorder. Previously story-free, Nattanya's resulting health problems started to emerge and her career had to come to a halt. The corporate denial of Nattanya's problems led her to fight back. "Broken Wings" is the gripping account of the struggle with her employer, as well as the net of entangled difficulties woven by the entire airline industry with the help and obstacles of multi-government bureaucracies and so-called unions, all shamelessly manouvering to maximize profits (which are, most times, a minuscule financial gain per passenger, but since airlines have nearly five billion clients per year...).

The book grows to reveal the true and troubling general health issues afflicting professionals in the air. The airline industry is hoping that these rarely adressed insider's revelations injuring employees will not circulate among its paying customers (mainly frequent flying passengers!), as they are equally affected: the damaging consequences of insufficient air quantity and rarified oxygen, polluted (some times neuro-toxic) air quality, radiation exposure and other high-altitude consequences, turbulence effects, ensuing air rage, alcoholism, ... a host of other dangers, problems and symptoms all affecting long-term and short-term health. This is a comprehensive account of health hazards from flying in the 21st century.

As pages turn, one dicovers the compelling drama, but - refreshingly - this courageous tale is not told from a powerless victim's position but with the use of ballance and humor for truth and justice. The passionate and caring soul of the author brings us to hope that, at some point, corporations will switch from a context of denial to a desire of monitoring and improving their employees' and customers' health and well-being. Finally available in the digital format, "Broken Wings" is a unique, fascinating, eye-opening must-read that will deeply touch all travel professionals and passengers.