Latest news with #TheBombingofPanAm103
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Lockerbie from locals' eyes - homes vaporised, bodies in bushes, eerie silence
Pan Am 103 produced the largest crime scene in UK history, covering 845 square miles just over the border as debris and human remains fells out of the sky New BBC drama series, The Bombing of Pan Am 103 has stunned viewers at the shocking events of December 21 1988 and its devastating aftermath. The deadliest terrorist incident to have occurred on British soil hit Lockerbie when a bomb exploded in the cargo area of the plane. All 259 people aboard the plane died and 11 on the ground lost their lives on December 21. The debris covered 845 square miles- more than 2,000 square km, spread over the border into Northumbria creating the largest crime scene in UK history. Boeing 747 Clipper Maid Of The Seas had taken off from Heathrow and was less than two hours into its flight to New York and Detroit when passengers perished within seconds of the blast over Lockerbie, which is located in Dumfries and Galloway, south-western Scotland. It dramatizes the Scots-US investigation into the attack, the effect it had on victims' families and how it impacted Lockerbie's locals. The drama also highlights that lobbying by UK and US-based family groups resulted in "key reforms, from strengthening travel warning systems and tighter baggage screening, to people-centred responses to major disasters". So what happened that fateful a day when residents of a small Scottish town prepared for the holiday time with loved ones, while Pan Am Flight 103 exploded in the skies above them? That evening at around 7.10 pm, resident Donald Bogie heard a sound that became so loud that he said it became "almost unbearable". Then suddenly it went eerily quiet. He ran out of his house and saw flames. The streets were on fire, lawns were on fire, homes were on fire. Bodies lay everywhere. Over in a field lay the body of a young man who was only wearing his underpants because the rest of his clothes had been torn off during the fall. Beside him was an undamaged bottle of Chivas Regal. Farmer Kate Anderson told the Mirror how the cockpit of Pan Am flight 103, landed 50 yards from her remote cottage. The bodies of Captain James Bruce MacQuarrie, his copilot and the flight engineer were found still strapped into their seats. There were 98 bodies that rained on her land that evening. Speaking in 2018 on how she and other locals tried to help in the horrifying aftermath she said: "It felt like you were living in a film. Your human resources kicked in. You did what you could to help. 'There were families who were devastated. The poor soldiers who spend Christmas day picking up bits of bodies – many of them suffered afterwards,' Recalling the start of the nightmare, she described how it was ferociously windy: 'It was blowing a hoolie that night. We heard an explosion. We later realised it was the sound of the plane hitting Lockerbie, " she remembers. 'We could hear the bang from three miles away and could see the mushroom from the explosion. We knew it was fuel. I thought it might have been a petrol station. We could hear something whistling, so we went inside. 'There was another bang, and the electricity went off. We could see something white in our field when we went back outside. It was the cockpit, and it was about 50 yards from our house.' Kate and her husband Kevin approached the shattered plane. She said: 'It was silent. There was no sign of life. We looked inside, and there were several bodies in there, but you just knew that none of them were alive. 'There were bodies all over our farm. We later found out 98 bodies landed in our farm that night.' Local police officer Michael Gordon was on the phone chatting to a friend when he heard a strange rumbling sound outside. In a 2003 television interview, Michael recalled: "The weather that night was a bit wild, there was a strong wind. From my window, I could see Lockerbie as my house sits up on a hill and I heard this noise above the noise of the wind.." He at first assumed it was a jet fighter plane as the military were known to practice in the area. He then described how he saw objects falling from the sky before seeing a fireball hurtling straight towards Lockerbie. "When it hit, I could hear the most horrendous explosion, and I could hear the tiles on the roof of my house lifting. " The explosion cut all telephone lines and the water supply. The fire department was able to put out all the fires within seven and a half hours using milk wagons, which were quickly filled with water and driven to the many burning pieces of wreckage. Michael went out to help find survivors. He recalled: "Everything was on fire. I was jumping around - it was difficult to move without feeling my trousers burning." In the morning light, the full horror of what happened could be seen clearly. On the southern edge of the town was a huge crater with 1500 tonnes of rock and earth that had been blasted out of the ground. Several houses on the ground in the direct path of the fireball Michael saw had been vaporised. The main plane wreckage fell on Lockerbie - both wings and its midsection - 150 tonnes of machine descending up to 500 knots speed to create the crater. Around it, there was debris and human remains. Elsewhere In the ruins of homes, people searched for the bodies that fell out of the sky. One shellshocked resident told one of the many TV crews that descended onto the quiet town that her street "looked like a scene out of hell." The mid-section of the Boeing 747 fell from the sky onto Ella Ramsden's home in Park Place. In astonishing luck the 60-year-old survived the crash - as she ran carrying her Jack Russell to the kitchen - the only part of her home that remained standing. Ella's dog Cara, her budgie, and even her pet goldfish survived. Ella and Cara were pulled out of the window in her kitchen door that she had broken with a frying pan. The next day, the budgie was found fluttering about the ruins and the goldfish were still swimming in their tank amid the rubble. Ella had been tidying up after a visit by her son and two young grandsons when she heard a deafening noise and flashes of red. Speaking to the Mirror in 1998 on the ten-year anniversary of the tragedy Ella said: "The house started to come in over me. Suddenly the stars were above me. I smashed a window in the kitchen and screamed for help. People ran round to the front, but there was no front any more. "For me, it was only losing a house. For so many others it was a loss beyond imagination." Ella's family was grateful she lived for another 22 years after Lockerbie. She died in 2010. Over 60 bodies were reportedly recovered from Ella's house and garden. It was reported that among them was US passenger Lorraine Buser - who was found sat strapped to plane seat 35C on the remains of the roof. Lorraine, who was pregnant, was one of three members of an American family who died. There were 12 children under the age of 10 who perished that night. The youngest fatality was nine weeks old. Normally, only four policemen worked in the Lockerbie region, but by Thursday morning there were 1,100 working alongside 1,000 soldiers, firemen and volunteers. The youngest police officer, Colin Dorrance, then 18, saw a farmer driving a pick-up truck carrying debris from Pan Am 103 and, in the front seat, was the body of a young girl. "It was the body of a child he'd found in a field at the back of his farm, " he recalled in a 2018 interview. "It was a young child under the age of five. It looked as though they were asleep; it wasn't obviously injured, and it was just a shock to realise it was a passenger from Pan Am 103. "At the time it all happened so fast. There were hundreds of passengers brought into the town hall." The retired police officer later discovered it was a child by the name of Bryony Owen who was 20 months old. Bryony was travelling to the United States with her mother Yvonne Owen from Wales, to spend Christmas in Boston. The first bodies were brought to the town hall, but people then started bringing them to the ice rink because it was the only place big and cold enough to store so many bodies. Reportedly, more than half of those living in Lockerbie and the surrounding areas at the time who witnessed the terrible events and aftermath suffer from PTSD. Abdelbaset al-Megrahi is the only person to have been convicted of the bombing. The former Libyan intelligence officer was found guilty of mass murder in 2001.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The Bombing of Pan Am 103: how many episodes are left?
The Bombing of Pan Am 103 is nearing a conclusion - but how many episodes are left? 📺 Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... BBC's Lockerbie drama will continue tonight (June 1). Four episodes have already been broadcast. But how many are left in the show? It is almost time for another episode in the BBC's latest drama: The Bombing of Pan Am 103. The show explores the 'untold story' of the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing on both sides of the Atlantic. Viewers might be wondering how many episodes are left in the series. The cast for the drama has been confirmed as well - find out more. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But when will The Bombing of Pan Am 103 end? Here's all you need to know: How many episodes of The Bombing of Pan Am 103 are left? DS Ed McCusker (Connor Swindells) in The Bombing of Pan Am 103. | Mark Mainz/BBC/Netflix The show will have six episodes in total, it has been confirmed. It is produced by both BBC and Netflix - with the latter set to release it outside the UK. Before tonight (June 1), The Bombing of Pan Am 103 has aired four episodes. The fifth is set to be broadcast at 9pm on the Beeb. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The sixth and final episode of the show is set to air 24 hours later on Monday (June 2) night. It will also start at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Who is in the cast of The Bombing of Pan Am 103? The show features plenty of faces that you will undoubtedly recognise - including Suits star Patrick J. Adams. The full cast includes: Connor Swindells (SAS Rogue Heroes, Sex Education) Patrick J. Adams (Suits, A League of Their Own) Merritt Wever (Unbelievable, Severance) Peter Mullan (Ozark, Payback) Tony Curran (Mary & George, Mayflies) Douglas Hodge (The Great, Catastrophe) Eddie Marsan (The Power, Ray Donovan) Nicholas Gleaves (After The Flood, The Rising) Lauren Lyle (Karen Pirie, Vigil) Andrew Rothney (The Undeclared War, Traces) Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey, Guilt) Cora Bissett (Annika, Shetland) Kevin McKidd (Greys Anatomy, Six Four) Parker Sawyers (Spy/Master, P-Valley) James Harkness (The Sixth Commandment, The Victim) Molly Geddes (Dinosaur, Where We Stop) Khalid Laith (Vigil, Cobra) Amanda Drew (The Gold, Wolf) What to expect from The Bombing of Pan Am 103 tonight? The preview for episode five, via Radio Times , reads: 'The ongoing joint Scottish and FBI investigation closes in on the identity of a key player in the bombing, but progress is threatened by troubled relations between international agencies. 'A secret CIA asset could hold the key to revealing the identities of those responsible for the bombing of Pan Am 103.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Geek Tyrant
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Trailer For The Drama Thriller Series THE BOMBING OF PAN AM 103 Coming To Netflix and BBC — GeekTyrant
The BBC and Netflix are launching a new drama their series about the Lockerbie bombing, titled The Bombing of Pan Am 103 , and the trailer has been released for it. The series follows what happened after the worst terror attack to take place on British soil 37 years ago. It tells the story of 'the Scots-U.S. investigation into the attack and the devastating effect it had on the small town and the families who lost loved ones. 'From the initial exhaustive search for evidence on the ground in Scotland, via the U.S. and Malta to the trial at Camp Zeist in 2000, the series leads up to the forthcoming new trial in the U.S.' The series comes following Sky and Peacock's series, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth , which was criticized by some of the victims. This new series stars Connor Swindells and Patrick J. Adams along with Merritt Wever ( Unbelievable, Severance ), Peter Mullan ( Ozark, Payback ), Tony Curran ( Mary & George, Mayflies ), Eddie Marsan ( The Power, Ray Donovan ), Nicholas Gleaves ( After The Flood, The Rising ) and Kevin McKidd (Greys Anatomy, Six Four). The project was developed by filmmaker Adam Morane-Griffiths whose research includes extensive interviews with Scottish police officers and representatives from United States investigative agencies, many of whom have never previously shared their stories. The series is now avilable to watch.
Scotsman
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
When is the Bombing of Pan Am 103 on TV? BBC schedule
The Bombing of Pan Am 103 will continue on the BBC this bank holiday weekend 📺 Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Bombing of Pan Am 103 will continue this weekend. Connor Swindells leads the cast of the drama. But when is the show on TV next and who are the actors in it? The BBC's latest drama The Bombing of Pan Am 103 will be continuing this Bank Holiday weekend. It explores the 'untold story' of the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing in 1988. SAS: Rogue Heroes' star Connor Swindells leads the cast - but there are plenty of other familiar faces. Having made its debut last week with two episodes, you might be wondering what you can expect over the Bank Holiday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Viewers are in for another double helping as the BBC schedule has been confirmed. Here's all you need to know: When is The Bombing of Pan Am 103 on TV next? DS Ed McCusker (Connor Swindells) in The Bombing of Pan Am 103. | Mark Mainz/BBC/Netflix The show made its debut last weekend with two episodes and that is set to continue over the Bank Holiday. The Bombing of Pan Am 103's third episode is set to be broadcast today (May 25) and the fourth will follow on Monday (May 26). Both episodes are due to start at 9pm and will run for approximately an hour. If you can't watch it live, the show will be available on catch up via iPlayer after it has aired. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How many episodes are left of The Bombing of Pan Am 103? The historical drama will have six episodes in total, the BBC has confirmed. The third and fourth will air on May 25 and May 26 and that leaves just two more in the series. Who is in the cast of The Bombing of Pan Am 103? The show features plenty of faces that you will undoubtedly recognise - including Suits star Patrick J. Adams. The full cast includes: Connor Swindells (SAS Rogue Heroes, Sex Education) Patrick J. Adams (Suits, A League of Their Own) Merritt Wever (Unbelievable, Severance) Peter Mullan (Ozark, Payback) Tony Curran (Mary & George, Mayflies) Douglas Hodge (The Great, Catastrophe) Eddie Marsan (The Power, Ray Donovan) Nicholas Gleaves (After The Flood, The Rising) Lauren Lyle (Karen Pirie, Vigil) Andrew Rothney (The Undeclared War, Traces) Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey, Guilt) Cora Bissett (Annika, Shetland) Kevin McKidd (Greys Anatomy, Six Four) Parker Sawyers (Spy/Master, P-Valley) James Harkness (The Sixth Commandment, The Victim) Molly Geddes (Dinosaur, Where We Stop) Khalid Laith (Vigil, Cobra) Amanda Drew (The Gold, Wolf) What is The Bombing of Pan Am 103 about? Unlike the other 2025 series based on the Lockerbie bombing, this six-part drama focuses on the investigation in the aftermath of the attack. The BBC explains that it 'follows the untold story of the Scots-US investigation into the attack' and the 'devastating effect it had on the small town and the families who lost loved ones'. The Beeb adds: 'From the initial exhaustive search for evidence on the ground in Scotland, via the US and Malta to the trial at Camp Zeist in 2000, the series leads up to the upcoming new trial in the US. The Bombing of Pan Am 103 also highlights the human impact on the investigators, the families and the Lockerbie community as it sought to rebuild and connect with bereaved families around the world.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Scotsman
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
When is the Bombing of Pan Am 103 on TV? BBC schedule
The Bombing of Pan Am 103 will continue on the BBC this bank holiday weekend 📺 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Bombing of Pan Am 103 will continue this weekend. Connor Swindells leads the cast of the drama. But when is the show on TV next and who are the actors in it? The BBC's latest drama The Bombing of Pan Am 103 will be continuing this Bank Holiday weekend. It explores the 'untold story' of the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing in 1988. SAS: Rogue Heroes' star Connor Swindells leads the cast - but there are plenty of other familiar faces. Having made its debut last week with two episodes, you might be wondering what you can expect over the Bank Holiday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Viewers are in for another double helping as the BBC schedule has been confirmed. Here's all you need to know: When is The Bombing of Pan Am 103 on TV next? DS Ed McCusker (Connor Swindells) in The Bombing of Pan Am 103. | Mark Mainz/BBC/Netflix The show made its debut last weekend with two episodes and that is set to continue over the Bank Holiday. The Bombing of Pan Am 103's third episode is set to be broadcast today (May 25) and the fourth will follow on Monday (May 26). Both episodes are due to start at 9pm and will run for approximately an hour. If you can't watch it live, the show will be available on catch up via iPlayer after it has aired. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How many episodes are left of The Bombing of Pan Am 103? The historical drama will have six episodes in total, the BBC has confirmed. The third and fourth will air on May 25 and May 26 and that leaves just two more in the series. Who is in the cast of The Bombing of Pan Am 103? The show features plenty of faces that you will undoubtedly recognise - including Suits star Patrick J. Adams. The full cast includes: Connor Swindells (SAS Rogue Heroes, Sex Education) Patrick J. Adams (Suits, A League of Their Own) Merritt Wever (Unbelievable, Severance) Peter Mullan (Ozark, Payback) Tony Curran (Mary & George, Mayflies) Douglas Hodge (The Great, Catastrophe) Eddie Marsan (The Power, Ray Donovan) Nicholas Gleaves (After The Flood, The Rising) Lauren Lyle (Karen Pirie, Vigil) Andrew Rothney (The Undeclared War, Traces) Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey, Guilt) Cora Bissett (Annika, Shetland) Kevin McKidd (Greys Anatomy, Six Four) Parker Sawyers (Spy/Master, P-Valley) James Harkness (The Sixth Commandment, The Victim) Molly Geddes (Dinosaur, Where We Stop) Khalid Laith (Vigil, Cobra) Amanda Drew (The Gold, Wolf) What is The Bombing of Pan Am 103 about? Unlike the other 2025 series based on the Lockerbie bombing, this six-part drama focuses on the investigation in the aftermath of the attack. The BBC explains that it 'follows the untold story of the Scots-US investigation into the attack' and the 'devastating effect it had on the small town and the families who lost loved ones'. The Beeb adds: 'From the initial exhaustive search for evidence on the ground in Scotland, via the US and Malta to the trial at Camp Zeist in 2000, the series leads up to the upcoming new trial in the US. The Bombing of Pan Am 103 also highlights the human impact on the investigators, the families and the Lockerbie community as it sought to rebuild and connect with bereaved families around the world.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Have you got a story you want to share with our readers? You can now send it to us online via YourWorld at . It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
