AboutPaul Ruderham Expertise I have been studying aviation for over twenty years. I know about the function of airlines, how aeroplanes fly, aviation accidents and why they happen. I am also an accomplished model aeroplane pilot, and a flight simulator expert. I have flown chipmunks and light aircraft.
Experience Hands on experience working at the airport, plus many hours of studying airlines and different types of aeroplanes.
Question How did the aircraft break during the explosion? I heard that more than 100 passengers including the flight crew were still alive after the explosion. Could they have survived at all?
Answer Hi Kevin,
The aircraft broke up in flight shortly after an explosive device, contained in a portable plastic radio in the cargo hold, detonated.
The aircraft's nose separated at aprroximately the L2 door, and fell to the ground with the flight crew inside.
Thirteen miles away portions of the fuselage and wing structure impacted the town of Lockerbie, Scotland.
There were casualties on the Ground as the largest part of the fuselage impacted like a bomb and destroyed houses and people. A large crater was made as it hit.
I doubt that it was survivable as the air would have been thin when the bomb went off. Many people die of shock or heart attacks before impact.
Date: 21-12-1988
Pan Am 103
259 passengers plus 11 crew all killed.
Aircraft was a Boeing 747-121 series
No 15 off the line
Year 1970
