Trans World Airlines Flight 800 is one of the deadliest aviation accidents, claiming 230 lives in an explosion that caused the plane to crash into the Atlantic Ocean. The flight was scheduled from New York to Rome with a stopover in Paris and exploded within 12 minutes after takeoff over the shores of Long Island, New York. While some believe it was an accident, others, including conspiracy theorists, have proposed various controversial ideas. Even after twenty years, it remains a topic of horror and mystery. Many doubts have been raised, suggesting it might have been a terrorist act or a fiery crash. A primary reason for skepticism towards the official investigation is the seven years it took investigators to produce the detailed aviation report, leading some to believe it was a cover-up.
Conspiracy Theory – It was a terrorist missile strike:
Fact: No, not true
- Numerous witnesses reported seeing a bright light approaching the plane just before the explosion. Some speculated it was a missile or a rocket, while others thought it resembled fireworks or a flare moving toward the aircraft.
- A series of suspicious incidents had occurred in America before the plane crash. The wave of terrorism began in 1988 with the explosion of Pan Am Flight 103 by Libyan national Baset Ali Mohames al-Megrahi, which killed 270 people. The second bombing occurred at the World Trade Center in 1993, resulting in 6 deaths. This was followed by the Oklahoma City bombing, which killed 168 people, and an attack on US military forces in eastern Saudi Arabia, claiming 19 lives. Then came the crash of TWA Flight 800.
- The combination of multiple eyewitness accounts of a missile-like object heading towards the plane just before the explosion and the fact that the flight exploded only 12 minutes after takeoff are the main reasons why people developed this theory. It seemed convincing to some, especially given the preceding history of terrorist attacks. Conspiracy theorists and others concluded that terrorists were responsible. However, this theory was later debunked by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which stated that its investigation found no evidence of criminal acts.
Conspiracy Theory – Moammar Gadhafi and Saddam hussein caused this accident:
Fact: No, they didn’t
Based on the belief that the crash was a terrorist act, some individuals proposed potential culprits. Moammar Gadhafi and Saddam Hussein were named as prime suspects. Investigators explored every possibility of terrorist involvement. Former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta suggested the possibility of Iran playing a major role in the crash. However, this theory was debunked due to a lack of supporting evidence.
Conspiracy Theory – Aliens caused the crash:
Fact: No, it is not true
- The NTSB’s investigation concluded that the accident was caused by the explosion of flammable fuel vapors in the center fuel tank. Despite this finding, some conspiracy theories arose suggesting that aliens or supernatural forces were responsible. Some eyewitnesses to the explosion claimed they saw a strange object moving erratically that targeted the plane, leading to the explosion. While there is no explanation for these eyewitness accounts within the official findings, investigators maintained that the primary cause of the accident was a short circuit. Evidence indicated a problem in the wiring and arcing (electrical breakdown in the circuit) within the fuel quantity indication system, which was determined to be the ignition source of the explosion.
- Conspiracy theorists and others also questioned the fuel quantity indication system as the sole cause. Many pilots and laypeople found it hard to believe that a system pilots routinely check before takeoff could lead to such a catastrophic event. However, this theory was also debunked due to a lack of evidence supporting external factors or alien involvement.
Conspiracy Theory – US missile test gone wrong:
Fact: No, it is not true
One popular conspiracy theory suggested that a US Navy warship accidentally shot down TWA Flight 800 during a missile test. Sensational news was generated by high-profile individuals, even without concrete evidence. Mr. Pierre Salinger, JFK’s former press spokesman, claimed that a US secret service source provided him with a document detailing the explosion, stating that the plane was accidentally shot down by the Navy during missile tests. However, this theory is considered a hoax and has been disproven by the official investigation.
Conspiracy Theory – The crash happened due to the on-board bomb:
Fact: No, it is not true
- A former pilot suggested that while mechanical failure or malfunction is common in flights, this case was different. The claim was made that planes exploding mid-air usually indicate an on-board bomb, leading many to believe that the official investigation was falsified.
- Blast holes found on the surface of the airplane’s structure, numbering around 196, were cited as evidence that could not have been caused by mechanical failure. Conspiracy theorists believed that a bomb made with high-energy explosives penetrated the metal at high speed.
- However, the NTSB investigation report stated that the holes were caused by low-velocity impacts, and no signs of melted or resolidified metal, which would be characteristic of an explosion, were identified on the plane. This led to the conclusion that a bomb was not the cause. A bomb explosion would have caused high-velocity deformations and holes. Hence, this theory was debunked.
Despite all the evidence presented over the years, many people still believe that the official conclusion was merely a cover-up.
