Every big tragedy seems to breed new conspiracy theories. Whether it was the circumstances surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy or the September 11 terrorist attacks, someone is always questioning whether the real perpetrators had been brought to justice. This also goes for the biggest terror attack in the UK, with people asking for the Pan Am flight 103 air crash investigation to be reopened.
The events of December 21, 1988 were the greatest disaster in British aviation history. An aircraft from the American airline Pan Am exploded in flight not long after it took off from Heathrow Airport. A bomb had caused the explosion, which happened in the air above Lockerbie, a small town in Scotland.
The explosion caused the aircraft to disintegrate. All passengers and crew were killed. However, the disaster was made worse when pieces of the plane fell onto Lockerbie and killed a further 11 people who were living in the town. A total of 270 people died, of which 189 were American. Britain lost 43 of its citizens and other victims came from countries as diverse as Argentina, India, Jamaica and South Africa.
It took three years of hard work for the investigators to pinpoint their suspects, two men from Libya. Another eight years of negotiations followed before the Libyan government handed the men over so that they could stand trial. Only one of the men was found guilty and he was sentenced to life in prison. He appealed his sentence twice, received a compassionate release in 2009 and maintained until his death of cancer that he had been innocent. The Libyan government, however, paid compensation to the families of those who died in the bombing.
Conspiracy theorists believe that Libya never was responsible for the atrocity. There are several theories about what really happened. One of the more bizarre ones is that the CIA was the guilty party, having bombed the plane so that two agents on board couldn't tell anyone about a drug-running operation that the CIA was involved in. According to this theory, the operation was being run in return for information that would help secure the release of hostages in Syria.
Another theory which was formed not long after the incident involved South Africa's apartheid government. South Africa was on the verge of finally handing over Namibia to UN control. The UN commissioner who was to take over Namibian rule until the country's independence was killed in the bombing, while a delegation that included the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs was supposed to be on the flight but escaped death when they took another flight instead.
Especially since the man found responsible was released in 2009 for compassionate reasons, some family members of those who were killed and some prominent figures have been calling for a new investigation. They started petitions online to find support. Their wish is that an independent inquiry, under leadership of the UN, will uncover the truth about who really was responsible for the tragedy and whether justice had been served.
Even though another Pan Am flight 103 air crash investigation hasn't been opened, it's not impossible for it to happen. The wreckage is still being kept as evidence since there are still ongoing legal proceedings after all these years. Maybe looking at these pieces of evidence anew will finally answer everyone's questions and lay the case to rest.
The events of December 21, 1988 were the greatest disaster in British aviation history. An aircraft from the American airline Pan Am exploded in flight not long after it took off from Heathrow Airport. A bomb had caused the explosion, which happened in the air above Lockerbie, a small town in Scotland.
The explosion caused the aircraft to disintegrate. All passengers and crew were killed. However, the disaster was made worse when pieces of the plane fell onto Lockerbie and killed a further 11 people who were living in the town. A total of 270 people died, of which 189 were American. Britain lost 43 of its citizens and other victims came from countries as diverse as Argentina, India, Jamaica and South Africa.
It took three years of hard work for the investigators to pinpoint their suspects, two men from Libya. Another eight years of negotiations followed before the Libyan government handed the men over so that they could stand trial. Only one of the men was found guilty and he was sentenced to life in prison. He appealed his sentence twice, received a compassionate release in 2009 and maintained until his death of cancer that he had been innocent. The Libyan government, however, paid compensation to the families of those who died in the bombing.
Conspiracy theorists believe that Libya never was responsible for the atrocity. There are several theories about what really happened. One of the more bizarre ones is that the CIA was the guilty party, having bombed the plane so that two agents on board couldn't tell anyone about a drug-running operation that the CIA was involved in. According to this theory, the operation was being run in return for information that would help secure the release of hostages in Syria.
Another theory which was formed not long after the incident involved South Africa's apartheid government. South Africa was on the verge of finally handing over Namibia to UN control. The UN commissioner who was to take over Namibian rule until the country's independence was killed in the bombing, while a delegation that included the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs was supposed to be on the flight but escaped death when they took another flight instead.
Especially since the man found responsible was released in 2009 for compassionate reasons, some family members of those who were killed and some prominent figures have been calling for a new investigation. They started petitions online to find support. Their wish is that an independent inquiry, under leadership of the UN, will uncover the truth about who really was responsible for the tragedy and whether justice had been served.
Even though another Pan Am flight 103 air crash investigation hasn't been opened, it's not impossible for it to happen. The wreckage is still being kept as evidence since there are still ongoing legal proceedings after all these years. Maybe looking at these pieces of evidence anew will finally answer everyone's questions and lay the case to rest.
About the Author:
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