Whenever an event rocks the world, it doesn't take long for conspiracy theories about it to develop. Some people are questioning whether John F Kennedy was really shot by Lee Harvey Oswald, whether the Americans really landed on the moon and whether Al-Qaeda really was behind the events of September 11, 2001. One of the greatest tragedies of the Eighties is another source for conspiracy theorists and after more than 20 years, it seems that the Pan Am flight 103 air crash investigation will never really draw to a conclusion.
The greatest aviation disaster in British history took place on December 21, 1988. Soon after taking off from Heathrow Airport in London, an airplane of the Pan Am airline exploded in the air over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. The initial investigation showed that the explosion was caused by a bomb on the plane.
Because the aircraft disintegrated, everyone on board was killed. The burning wreckage fell down to the ground and killed 11 Lockerbie residents as well. People from 19 different nationalities died in the disaster, including 189 US and 43 UK nationals.
After three years of countless interviews and studying every possible piece of forensic evidence, investigators concluded that their suspects were two Libyans. The Libyan government wouldn't release the men to the UK for trial until 1999. One man was declared guilty and received a life sentence. He appealed and kept maintaining his innocence until he died years later. The government of Libya never admitted guilt either but accepted responsibility and paid compensation to the families of those who died.
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 greatest aviation disaster in British history took place on December 21, 1988. Soon after taking off from Heathrow Airport in London, an airplane of the Pan Am airline exploded in the air over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. The initial investigation showed that the explosion was caused by a bomb on the plane.
Because the aircraft disintegrated, everyone on board was killed. The burning wreckage fell down to the ground and killed 11 Lockerbie residents as well. People from 19 different nationalities died in the disaster, including 189 US and 43 UK nationals.
After three years of countless interviews and studying every possible piece of forensic evidence, investigators concluded that their suspects were two Libyans. The Libyan government wouldn't release the men to the UK for trial until 1999. One man was declared guilty and received a life sentence. He appealed and kept maintaining his innocence until he died years later. The government of Libya never admitted guilt either but accepted responsibility and paid compensation to the families of those who died.
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.
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