Seconds From Disaster - S02E10 - TWA Flight 800

Trans World Airlines Flight 800 (TWA 800), a Boeing 747-131, exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, on July 17, 1996, at about 20:31 EDT (00:31, July 18 UTC), 12 minutes after takeoff, killing all 230 persons on board. TWA 800 was a scheduled international passenger flight from New York City, New York to Rome, Italy, with a stopover in Paris, France.

While accident investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) traveled to the scene, arriving the following morning, there was much initial speculation that a terrorist attack was the cause of the crash. Consequently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initiated a parallel criminal investigation. Sixteen months later the FBI announced that no evidence had been found of a criminal act, and closed its active investigation.

The four-year NTSB investigation ended with the adoption of its final report on August 23, 2000. The report's conclusion was that the probable cause of the accident was an explosion of flammable fuel/air vapors in a fuel tank, and, although it could not be determined with certainty, the most likely cause of the explosion was a short circuit. As a result of the crash, new requirements were developed for aircraft to prevent future fuel tank explosions.

Many TWA Flight 800 alternative theories exist, the most prevalent being that a missile strike from a terrorist or U.S. Navy vessel caused the crash, and is the subject of a government coverup. The missile theory emerged because of eyewitnesses in the Long Island area who reported seeing something resembling a flare or firework ascend and explode. However, analysis by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) concluded that they saw only the burning aircraft, not a missile attack.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• seconds from disaster
• TWA Flight 800

[elvaton45]

With the plane put back together in the hanger right where the fuel tank is there is a blown out area ( out not in ) My dad spent many hours looking over the remains of the plane after looking at the floor over the fuel tank and under the fuel tank he believes it was a wiring problem just like tthe NTSB said not a bomb and not a missle. I didn't see the plane so I really don't know happened. I'm going by what he seen and has told me.

[GamerFan73]

@purseonal2010 The something flying up to the plane was the plane! Once the nose had broken off, the plane skyrocketed up and then stalled, I can imagine that's what people saw, because that climbing plane looks a lot like a missle from far away.

[hajifangirl01]

@twistedyogert final destination was based on this plane explosion

[twistedyogert]

So the moral is "Check your wiring"

[twistedyogert]

Reminds me of final destination 1

[mattxr2i]

@Hobu123 I was being sarcastic. But either way I have no desire to argue about something I said 2 months ago :-)

[itskirstybetchx]

@kag6 That's like my worst nightmare :/

[Hobu123]

@mattxr2i

2 months ago

[DrDontDoDis]

@chaochaozheng5193 Dude, that's not even the real plane! It's a COMPUTER ANIMATION, made for the show to illustrate the incident and for dramatic effect. As far as we know, there is no footage of the actual explosion; a very common situation for sudden and unexpected events like this.

[mattxr2i]

@Hobu123 Yeah I commented on this like years ago so I don't even remember what I said. So sure. you're right.

[Hobu123]

@mattxr2i

People see all kinds of nonsense all the time.

[raezrad86]

I knew someone who died in this crash, he was a flight attendant. Absolutely horrible.