The Conspiracy Theories Behind The Pan Am Flight 103 Air Crash Investigation
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 an investigation lasting three years, two Libyan nationals were accused of the bombing. They were only handed over for trial in 1999 and eventually one was found guilty. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, appealed twice and was eventually released on compassionate grounds in 2009. Libya accepted responsibility for the bombing and paid compensation to the victims' families.
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 conspiracy theory implicates the South African government. At the time, this country was in the process of giving up its control over Namibia. The UN-appointed commissioner who was to take over and lead Namibia to independence died in the disaster, raising the possibility of an assassination by the apartheid security forces. The conspiracy theory was further fueled by the fact that South Africa's Foreign Affairs Minister and his delegation, on their way to New York to sign the treaty, were booked on flight 103 but had decided to take another one 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.
The case hasn't been reopened yet. This doesn't mean it's over, however. Some legal proceedings are still ongoing and therefore the wreckage is still held as evidence. In other words, another Pan Am flight 103 air crash investigation is not entirely impossible in future.
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 an investigation lasting three years, two Libyan nationals were accused of the bombing. They were only handed over for trial in 1999 and eventually one was found guilty. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, appealed twice and was eventually released on compassionate grounds in 2009. Libya accepted responsibility for the bombing and paid compensation to the victims' families.
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 conspiracy theory implicates the South African government. At the time, this country was in the process of giving up its control over Namibia. The UN-appointed commissioner who was to take over and lead Namibia to independence died in the disaster, raising the possibility of an assassination by the apartheid security forces. The conspiracy theory was further fueled by the fact that South Africa's Foreign Affairs Minister and his delegation, on their way to New York to sign the treaty, were booked on flight 103 but had decided to take another one 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.
The case hasn't been reopened yet. This doesn't mean it's over, however. Some legal proceedings are still ongoing and therefore the wreckage is still held as evidence. In other words, another Pan Am flight 103 air crash investigation is not entirely impossible in future.
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