TextSearch

Pan Am Flight 103 Fast Facts | News Channel 3-12 Skip to content Open toolbar Accessibility Tools High Contrast Negative Contrast Light Background Links Underline Readable Font Reset circle-arrow Play Button Stop Button chevron-right chevron-left chevron-up search warning chevron-left-skinny chevron-right-skinny x clock calendar play-button cancel-circle user twitter facebook youtube instagram email linkedin Home News Santa Barbara – South County Santa Maria – Lompoc – North County San Luis Obispo County Ventura County Crime and Safety Fires News Channel 3 Investigates News Channel 12 Eye On Crime Politics National/World Latino Weather Local Forecast Interactive Radar SkyCam Network Traffic Gas Prices Your Vote Live Election Results Local/Regional Races Statewide Propositions National Races Politics Local Politics Sports High School Sports College Sports More Sports Friday Football Focus Newscasts & Livestream News Channel 3-12 Livestream Livestream Special Coverage KKFX Fox 11 Morning SkyCam Network Coronavirus Safe at Home Life 805 Careers House & Home Business Matters Holiday Turkey Drive Your Money Community Events Calendar Health Technology What’s Right Shop 805LocalLinks Central Coast Deals Health Connections 805 Professionals Play Contests Entertainment Travel Share Jobs Work For Us 805 Careers About Advertise with Us Contact Us Closed Captioning Download Our Apps EEO Public File Report FCC Public File How to find News Channel 12 Public File Help Jobs and Internships Meet the Team Newsletters/Alerts TV Listings Skip to Content News Weather Traffic LocalLinks Life Shop Play Share Watch Santa Barbara 60° Video Forecast Concerns of flooding, strong winds, and high surf amidst strong storm Take our mobile apps with you! Popular Videos SkipAds by Top Stories Santa Barbara County releases map of evacuation orders for strong incoming storm 5th annual News Channel Day of Service Blood Drive set for MLK Day, Jan. 16 Concerns of flooding, strong winds, and high surf amidst strong storm Storm threat leads to evacuations in Montecito San Luis Obispo County Supervisors sworn in: Jimmy Paulding interview cnn-world follow Follow "cnn-world" to receive notifications about new pages on "cnn-world". 0 Followers By CNN Newsource follow Follow "" to receive notifications about new pages on "". Published November 29, 2022 12:30 pm Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Linkedin Pan Am Flight 103 Fast Facts CNN Editorial Research Here’s a look at the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. December 21, 1988 – Pan Am Flight 103 explodes 31,000 feet over Lockerbie, Scotland, 38 minutes after takeoff from London. Two hundred fifty-nine people on board the New York-bound Boeing 747 were killed, along with 11 people on the ground. Afterward, United States and British investigators found fragments of a circuit board and a timer, and ruled that a bomb, not mechanical failure, caused the explosion. Trending Articles The following is a list of the most commented articles in the last 7 days. Advertisement A trending article titled "California reparations task force to talk eligibility | News Channel 3-12" with 1 comment. California reparations task force to talk eligibility |... 1 comment A trending article titled "'Trump obsession is very bad': Senate Republicans confront their problems after poor election showing | News Channel 3-12" with 1 comment. 'Trump obsession is very bad': Senate Republicans confr... 1 comment A trending article titled "Carpinteria pot wars: A Dutch clean-air technology gives residents some hope | News Channel 3-12" with 1 comment. Carpinteria pot wars: A Dutch clean-air technology give... 1 comment A trending article titled "Cool to above normal temperatures across region, Beach Hazard Statement in effect | News Channel 3-12" with 1 comment. Cool to above normal temperatures across region, Beach ... 1 comment A trending article titled "Antisemetic flyers left in local neighborhoods spark investigation | News Channel 3-12" with 1 comment. Antisemetic flyers left in local neighborhoods spark in... 1 comment Open ad privacy settings This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with this website and allow us to remember you. We use this information in order to improve and customize your browsing experience and for analytics and metrics about visitors both on this website and other media. To find out more about the cookies we use, see our Privacy Policy. Enable personalized ads Close ad privacy settings Libyans Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi and Al Amin Khalifah Fhimah were tried for the bombing. Megrahi was found guilty, while Fhimah was found not guilty. Facts The two initial suspects were tried in a Scottish court at Camp Zeist, a former US air base 20 miles south of the Dutch capital of Amsterdam. The Dutch declared 30 acres of the 100-acre base Scottish territory so that the trial could be held in a neutral country as Megrahi, Fhimah and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi had wanted. There was no jury; three Scottish judges presided, with a fourth as a reserve. Authorities said Megrahi and Fhimah manufactured the bomb out of Semtex plastic explosives, concealed it in a Toshiba cassette recorder, hid the recorder in a Samsonite suitcase and slipped the suitcase aboard an Air Malta flight headed from Malta to Frankfurt, Germany. The unaccompanied bag is believed to have been transferred to a Pan Am flight to London and then to Flight 103. The CIA and FBI said the suspects, employed by Libyan Arab Airlines in Malta, were also Libyan intelligence agents. Lesser charges of conspiracy to murder and violating Britain’s 1982 Aviation Security Act were dropped. Over three years, investigators from the United States, Britain, Germany and other countries questioned more than 15,000 people in more than 30 countries and collected thousands of pieces of evidence. The death penalty is not permitted under Scottish law. There is no prescribed punishment for a conviction of conspiracy to murder. Any punishment is at the discretion of the court. Life imprisonment is the prescribed punishment for murder or contravention of the Aviation Security Act 1982. Any prison sentence would be served in Scotland. Timeline December 21, 1988 – Pan Am Flight 103 explodes 31,000 feet over Lockerbie, Scotland, 38 minutes after takeoff from London. The 259 people on board the New York-bound Boeing 747 are killed, along with 11 people on the ground. July 1990 – The British Civil Aviation Authority’s Air Investigation Branch officially reports that an explosive device caused the crash of Pan Am Flight 103. November 13, 1991 – US and British investigators indict Libyans Megrahi and Fhimah on 270 counts of murder, conspiracy to murder and violating Britain’s 1982 Aviation Security Act. The men are accused of being Libyan intelligence agents. April 15, 1992 – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposes sanctions on air travel and arms sales to Libya, over Libya’s refusal to hand the suspects over for trial in a Scottish court. March 1994 – Libya says it will consider a proposal to try the suspects in a neutral site with a panel of international judges. Britain and the United States reject the plan, insisting the pair be tried in a British or American court. August 24, 1998 – Britain and the United States propose trying the suspects in the Netherlands under Scottish law. December 5, 1998 – UN Secretary General Kofi Annan meets with Gadhafi to urge Libya to hand over the bombing suspects. December 15, 1998 – A US appeals court rules relatives of the 189 Americans killed in the bombing can sue Libya for its possible role in sponsoring the attack. December 16, 1998 – The Libyan People’s Congress agrees to a proposal to try Lockerbie bombing suspects in the Netherlands under Scottish law. April 5, 1999 – Libya hands over the suspects to the United Nations. They are taken to the Netherlands to stand trial. April 5, 1999 – The UNSC suspends air and arms sanctions against Libya after the bombing suspects are taken into UN custody. June 11, 1999 – US and Libyan representatives meet for the first time in 18 years to discuss lifting UN sanctions. December 7, 1999 – Megrahi and Fhimah make their first appearance at a two-day pre-trial hearing at Camp Zeist. May 3, 2000 – The trial of suspects Megrahi and Fhimah begins. November 28, 2000 – Judges at the Lockerbie trial reject a plea to acquit one of the two Libyans accused of planting a bomb on the Pan Am plane. January 9, 2001 – Prosecutors drop the lesser charges of conspiracy and endangering aircraft safety against Megrahi and Fhimah and ask the court to only consider the murder charges. January 10, 2001 – Prosecutors present their closing arguments in the case after calling 232 witnesses over eight months. Defense closing arguments follow, after lawyers for the pair call only three witnesses. January 31, 2001 – Megrahi is found guilty and jailed for a minimum of 27 years. Fhimah is found not guilty. March 14, 2002 – Megrahi loses his appeal against his murder conviction in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. 2003 – Gadhafi agrees to pay $2.7 billion in compensation to families of those killed in the bombing. June 28, 2004 – The United States resumes direct diplomatic ties with Libya after 24 years. June 2007 – The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) rules that Megrahi can appeal his conviction. October 2008 – It is announced that Megrahi is suffering from terminal cancer. October 31, 2008 – US President George W. Bush signs an executive order that restores Libya’s immunity from terrorism-related lawsuits. November 2008 – US Senator Frank Lautenberg announces at a press conference that the families of American victims of the Pan-Am bombing have received final compensation from the Libyan government. Each family received about $10 million, paid in installments between 2004 and 2008. August 20, 2009 – Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announces that Megrahi will be released from prison on compassionate grounds due to his terminal cancer. After being released, Megrahi returns to Libya and receives a jubilant welcome. August 2, 2010 – Senators Lautenberg and Robert Menendez hold a press conference to outline their plan to press for more information about the 2009 release of Megrahi. A group of US senators attempts to investigate rumors that the Lockerbie bomber was released as part of a deal to allow BP to drill off the coast of Libya. BP has denied such claims. July 26, 2011 – Megrahi appears in a wheelchair at a pro-Gadhafi rally in Tripoli. August 28, 2011 – CNN’s Nic Robertson tracks down Megrahi at his family’s villa in Tripoli. He appears to be comatose and near death, on oxygen and an IV. The National Transitional Council announces that it will not allow Megrahi’s extradition. Justice Minister Mohammed al-Alagi says, “We will not give any Libyan citizen to the West.” October 2, 2011 – Reuters interviews Megrahi at his home. Megrahi claims his innocence. May 20, 2012 – Megrahi dies in Libya. October 15, 2015 – Scottish officials announce that two additional Libyans have been identified as suspects in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. November 24, 2020 – Scotland’s High Court begins hearing an appeal by Megrahi’s family to overturn his conviction. December 21, 2020 – US Attorney General William Barr announces criminal charges against former Libyan intelligence officer Abu Agela Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi. Mas’ud is charged in a criminal complaint with for allegedly providing the suitcase with the prepared explosive that was later placed onboard the flight. He is currently in custody in Libya. January 15, 2021 – The Court of Criminal Appeal in Scotland denies the appeal by the Megrahi family. April 1, 2021 – Megrahi’s son, Ali, announces the family intends to appeal the case directly to the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court. July 14, 2022 – The UK’s Supreme Court refuses permission to appeal the case “because the application does not raise an arguable point of law.” December 11, 2022 – The US Justice Department says that alleged bombmaker Mas’ud is in US custody and is expected to make his “initial appearance in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.” He was in custody in Libya. The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin Article Topic Follows: cnn-world follow Follow "cnn-world" to receive notifications about new pages on "cnn-world". 0 Followers cnn follow Follow "cnn" to receive notifications about new pages on "cnn". KEYT follow Follow "KEYT" to receive notifications about new pages on "KEYT". national follow Follow "national" to receive notifications about new pages on "national". world follow Follow "world" to receive notifications about new pages on "world". CNN Newsource Recommended Articles Santa Barbara County releases map of evacuation orders for strong incoming storm | News Channel 3-12 Myths and facts about treating a hangover | News Channel 3-12 Experts monitor Alisal, Cave, Thomas Fire burn scars ahead of incoming storm | News Channel 3-12 Suspect in Idaho killings plans to waive extradition hearing | News Channel 3-12 MORE NEWSSkipAds by Around The Web3 Toxic Foods For Dogs: The One Meat You Should Never Feed Your DogDogFoodDiscovery.comSneaky Way Dallas Seniors Are Getting Walk-in Tubs For A Fraction Of The PriceSmart Consumer UpdateHere Are Some Common Medications for Migraine ReliefMigraine | Search AdsAffordable Internet Providers That Could Save You ThousandsInternet | Search AdsMacular Degeneration: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment (Search Here)Macular Degen | Search AdsPrivate Jets May Be Cheaper Than Economy Flight (See Prices)Private JetsLoad MoreThe content you see here is paid for by the advertiser or content provider whose link you click on, and is recommended to you by Revcontent. As the leading platform for native advertising and content recommendation, Revcontent uses interest based targeting to select content that we think will be of particular interest to you. We encourage you to view your opt out options in Revcontent's Privacy PolicyWant your content to appear on sites like this?Increase Your Engagement Now!Want to report this publisher's content as misinformation?Submit a ReportGot it, thanks! BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. Loading... Conversation Follow this conversation to be notified when new comments are posted follow following Log in | Sign up All Comments NEWEST 0 All Comments Start the conversation Advertisement Active Conversations The following is a list of the most commented articles in the last 7 days. A trending article titled "California reparations task force to talk eligibility | News Channel 3-12" with 1 comment. California reparations task force to talk eligibility | News Channel 3-12 1 A trending article titled "'Trump obsession is very bad': Senate Republicans confront their problems after poor election showing | News Channel 3-12" with 1 comment. 'Trump obsession is very bad': Senate Republicans confront their problems after poor election showing | News Channel 3-12 1 Open ad privacy settings This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with this website and allow us to remember you. We use this information in order to improve and customize your browsing experience and for analytics and metrics about visitors both on this website and other media. To find out more about the cookies we use, see our Privacy Policy. Enable personalized ads Close ad privacy settings Powered by 0 Terms of Service Privacy Policy Community Guidelines FCC Public File EEO Public File Report FCC Applications Do Not Sell My Personal Information Subscribe to our Email Lists Daily News Update Weather Forecast Breaking News Severe Weather Contests & Promotions Download Our Apps Available for iOS and Android     © 2023, NPG of California, LLC