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 tragedy took place in 1988, four days before Christmas. A Pan Am flight took off from Heathrow that day and soon after, disintegrated in mid-air. After it was concluded that the cause of the incident was a bomb, it became known as the Lockerbie bombing, after the Scottish town where the plane crashed.
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.
Among the many conspiracy theories surrounding the Lockerbie bombing is one that says the CIA was behind it. The theory is that the intelligence agency was running a drug-smuggling operation using planes from Pan Am. The reason for this is that in exchange for their help couriering drugs to the US, they would receive much-needed information on hostages in Syria. Some say that the plane was bombed to stop two agents, who were among the victims, from speaking out.
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.
Since 2009, there have been calls for a new, independent investigation into the crash. This process should be overseen by the UN. Online petitions were started and signatories included high-profile figures as well as relatives of some victims. They want an inquiry to find out what really happened, who really was responsible and whether the right man and even the right country had been found guilty of the worst act of terrorism on British soil.
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 tragedy took place in 1988, four days before Christmas. A Pan Am flight took off from Heathrow that day and soon after, disintegrated in mid-air. After it was concluded that the cause of the incident was a bomb, it became known as the Lockerbie bombing, after the Scottish town where the plane crashed.
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.
Among the many conspiracy theories surrounding the Lockerbie bombing is one that says the CIA was behind it. The theory is that the intelligence agency was running a drug-smuggling operation using planes from Pan Am. The reason for this is that in exchange for their help couriering drugs to the US, they would receive much-needed information on hostages in Syria. Some say that the plane was bombed to stop two agents, who were among the victims, from speaking out.
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.
Since 2009, there have been calls for a new, independent investigation into the crash. This process should be overseen by the UN. Online petitions were started and signatories included high-profile figures as well as relatives of some victims. They want an inquiry to find out what really happened, who really was responsible and whether the right man and even the right country had been found guilty of the worst act of terrorism on British soil.
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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