The novel was updated in 1998 by authors Thomas Block and Nelson DeMille and re-released as a paperback.

[1] A supersonic passenger jet flying over the Pacific Ocean is struck by an errant missile.

Mayday was adapted in a television film that premiered on CBS-TV as a Sunday night movie on October 2, 2005.

The movie stars Aidan Quinn, Gail O'Grady, Dean Cain, Charles Dutton, Michael Murphy, and Kelly Hu.

Other differences included navy pilot Peter Matos refusing to destroy the stricken airliner and diverting to an aircraft carrier (he was originally tricked into ditching his plane at sea), Harold Stein staying on board the flight (in the novel, he committed suicide by jumping from the airliner with his wife) and insurer Wayne Metz replaced by Anne Metz.