What was the outcome of the Pan Am Flight 103 incident?

• A. A bomb exploded onboard, killing all 259 people and 11 residents on the ground.
• B. The flight landed safely with no casualties.
• C. There was a mechanical failure but no explosion.
• D. The incident was a drill.

Answer: (A)

This event is defined by an act of terrorism that destroyed the plane in flight. A bomb exploded onboard Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988, causing the loss of all 259 people aboard and 11 residents on the ground—270 fatalities in total. The flight did not land safely, there was no mechanical failure, and it was not a drill. The outcome was the catastrophic destruction of the aircraft and the ensuing investigation and security changes that followed aviation terrorism.