Release Date: May 13, 2025
About The Book:
On a stormy late May morning in 2008, TACA Airlines Flight 390 crashes at one of the most dangerous airports in the world, Honduras’s Toncontin International Airport. Five people die in the crash—among them Rossana D’Antonio’s brother, pilot Cesare D’Antonio. Suspecting Cesare will be made a scapegoat for the accident, as so often happens to pilots, Rossana decides to leverage her decades of experience as an engineer and set out in search of the truth.
Part memoir, part exposé, 26 Seconds interweaves Rossana’s research regarding other parallel accidents with her own story. Six months after the TACA crash, Captain Sully Sullenberger lands his plane on the Hudson River. Although authorities call his landing a miracle, they also blame him for its necessity. One year after the TACA 390 tragedy, Air France 447 falls from the sky. Again, pilot error.
As Rossana digs deeper, she exposes a culture that is too quick to conclude pilot error and an industry that experiences systemic weaknesses, chooses profits over safety, lies to its customers, and is willing to risk lives to get its planes back up in the sky. Ultimately, she uncovers the smoking gun she’s been looking for—revealing the truth about TACA 390, exposing aviation cover-ups, and challenging us all to question the very systems we’ve been told we can trust with our lives.
About The Author:
Rossana D’Antonio is a licensed engineer with expertise in infrastructure design and emergency management and a strong advocate for infrastructure investments, including the Federal Aviation Authority Reauthorization. Shaped by her Italian and Salvadoran parents, D’Antonio is deeply committed to family and understands the value of creating an environment in which everyone feels safe and protected. She finds peace in Malibu, California, where she resides with her husband, Freddie, and puppy, Luna. https://rossanadantonio.com/
Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rossanagdantonio/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@rossanagdantonio
Book Blurbs:
“An engrossing re-creation of an aviation tragedy, blending meticulous analysis with a passionate plea for reform.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A sister’s moving, alarming examination of an air tragedy. A compact, powerful read.”—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY’S BOOKLIFE REVIEW
“In 26 Seconds, Rossana D’Antonio shares a raw and compelling account of tragedy, resilience, and discovery. With vivid storytelling and an unwavering commitment to uncovering the facts, she takes readers on a journey through loss, love, and the complexities of blame. This unforgettable memoir is a testament to the enduring power of truth and the unbreakable bonds of family.” —LOS ANGELES BOOK REVIEW
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