On August 1, 1990, Flight 149 was scheduled for its routine London-to-Kuala Lumpur run. But when the plane, carrying 385 passengers and crew, landed at a Kuwait airport to refuel that day, it was surrounded by Iraqi tanks and about to be bombed by fighter jets. The passengers and crew were kept as hostages and suffered brutal treatment including violent attacks, sexual assaults, and mock executions. When the survivors were eventually released, they were never told why their plane landed in the middle of an invasion, or who a mysterious team of late arrivals on the flight might have been. Their story was overshadowed by the ensuing Gulf War. Until now. In Flight 149, Stephen Davis draws on unique witness accounts from the hostages, and uncovers the lies and coverups orchestrated by the British secret service and CIA. This story reveals an astonishing misuse of intelligence that changed the course of history and forever altered the relationship between the West and the Middle East.

Includes index.

Prologue -- Invasion -- Trapped -- "Don't try to escape" -- The mission -- The increment -- A long walk home -- Captivity -- Survival -- Siege, part I: The diary of George Saloom, Flight 149 passenger -- Women and children first -- Siege, part II: The diary of George Saloom, US Embassy security officer -- Decisions -- Safe houses -- At the mercy of Saddam -- Crack-ups and round-ups -- Resistance -- Siege, part II: The diary of George Saloom, Arab hostage -- Going home -- The cover-up begins -- The suffering -- The search for truth -- Epilogue.