Here’s the story of TWA flight 800, one of the saddest 747 crash in aviation’s history. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones on board N93119. ❤

My high school teacher was on that flight. She was so excited for this trip to Paris. It breaks my heart that she died in this manner. I will never forget her.

In 1988, my future wife was a 20 year old student who'd missed her flight out of Europe for home. That flight happened to be the Lockerbie 747. Whenever I see anything that has to do with aircraft disaster, I think about how blind fortune allowed me to marry a wonderful woman and have two amazing young men as sons. And my heart aches for those who perished.

I was on a TWA flight in the summer of 1992 from Dayton OH to San Jose CA. I remember my grandma flagging down one of the flight attendants and whispering something to her. I wasn’t paying much attention at the time because it was my first time flying and my first time to California. When we landed, I remember the entire runway was flooded with emergency personnel vehicles. I flew home two weeks later by myself. I didn’t know until I got home that those emergency vehicles were waiting, prepared, for our plane. An engine was on fire. My grandma told the flight attendant she smelled smoke. Nobody told me until I got home… had they, I would have still been living in California to this day, 32 years later. I also flew home from California, directly over the Twin Towers, exactly one month to the day before 9/11. RIP to those who lost their lives on TWA flight 800 and to all who lost their lives on 9/11/01.

I knew and flew with that entire crew I had flown with the Captain not long before 😢❤️✈️ I will never get over losing my colleagues and all of the passengers🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

My best friend, Jamie Silverman, 15, was on the plane with her family. I have suffered emotional anguish every day since the accident. It never goes away.

In remembrance: Captain Ralph George Kevorkian, 58 First Officer Steven Edward Snyder, 57 Flight Engineer Richard Gordon Campbell, 63 Flight Engineer Oliver Krick, 25 Flight Attendant Dan J. Callas, 22 Flight Attendant Jacques Charbonnier, 65 Flight Attendant Constance B. Charbonnier, 49 Flight Attendant Janet Louise Wolf Christopher, 47 Flight Attendant Debra Collins DiLuccio, 47 Flight Attendant Arlene Ellen Johnsen, 60 Flight Attendant Raymond A. Lang, 51 Flight Attendant Maureen Lockhart, 49 Flight Attendant Sandra Jean Meade, 42 Flight Attendant Grace Melotin, 48 Flight Attendant Marit E. Rhoads, 48 Flight Attendant Mike Schuldt, 51 Flight Attendant Melinda Diane Wright Torche, 46 Flight Attendant Jill Ziemkiewicz, 24 Sandra Aikens-Bellamy, 49 Jessica Aikey, 17 Christian Alex Matthew Alexander, 20 Otis Lamar Allen, 49 Ashton Lamar Allen, 16 Svein Amlund Jule “Jay” Edward Anderson, 49 Patricia Ann Marion Anderson, 41 Seana Anderson, 27 David Alfred Babb, 13 Daniel Baszczewski, 18 Charles R. Beatty, 49 Myriam Bellazoug, 30 Arthur Benjamin, 58 Joan Evelyn Bauer Benjamin, 56 Line Berthe Maurice Berthe Nicolas Bluestone, 18 Michelle Bohlin, 15 Luc Yvon Bossuyt, 52 Leonie Bouhs Jordan Michael Bower, 17 Rosemary Braman-Mosberg, 47 Michel Breistroff, 25 Edwin B. Brooks Sr., 82 Ruth D. Brooks, 79 Mirko Buttaroni, 26 Monica Omiccioli Buttaroni, 23 Anthony Caillaud Daniel Caillaud Joseph Arthur “Jay” Carven, 9 Paula Ann Carven, 42 Jacques Cayrol Jenny Chaillou Ludovic Chanson, 12 Monique Chemtob Constance Coiner, 48 Ana Duarte Coiner, 12 Monica Eileen Cox, 16 Pamela Lee Crandell, 29 Daniel Creamades Marcel Dadi, 44 Anna D' Alessandro Francois Darley Cybele Deboisredon Sylvain Delange, 35 Judith Delouvrier, 48 Dominiques D’Huimieres Deborah Ann Lorson Dickey, 41 Douglas Clair Dickey, 47 Christine Bailey D'Iorio Peitro D'Iorio Warren Dodge, 47 Guy Dupont Larkyn Dwyer, 11 Daryl K. Edwards, 41 Marie Ellison, 67 Clara Jean Ersoz, 59 Namik Ersoz, 63 Douglas Alan Eshleman, 35 Alexandre Estival Dierdre Mairead Feeney, 16 Vera Feeney, 52, Kilmore Mohammed Samir Ferrat Richard “Rod” Foster, 61 Didier Foulon Carol Ann Schelb Fry, 54 Rosaria Pares Furlano Daniel Gabor, 27 Daniel Gaetke, 32 Stephanie Lynn Thomas Gaetke, 32 Claire Aldona Gallagher, 15 Jean Paul Galland Clair Gasq Francis Gasq Donald Ellis Gough, 56 Steven K. Graham, 39 Charles Henry Gray III, 47 Renee Greene Donna Griffith, 36 Joanne S. Griffith, 39 Julia Danielle Grimm, 15 Cyril Grivet Anne Gustin Beverly Hammer, 58 Tracy Anne Hammer, 28 Lars Hansen Eric Harkness, 23 Lawrence Harris Ghassan Haurani, 50 Nina Haurani, 53 Sandra Hazelton Rance Hettler, 18 Susan Hill, 44 Jean-Pierre Hochard David Hogan, 47 Virginia Pelaez Holst, 31 Eric B. Holst, 32 James Hull, 45 James H. Hurd III, 29 Lonnie Ingenhuett, 43 Benoit Jacquemot Susanne Jensen, 31 Courtney Johns, 18 Eleanor Johnson, 50 Jed Johnson, 47 Leonard Johnson, 53 Romana Jones, 64 Amanda Marie Karschner, 17 Margot Krikhan, 51 Andrew Krukar, 40 Barbara Kwan, 40 Patricia Kwiat, 20 Kimberly Kwiat, 26 Jane Elizabeth Reardon Labys, 52 Antoine Lacailledesse Alain LaForge Yvon Lamour Ana Leim Elaine K. Loffredo, 50 Jody Lee Loudenslager, 17 Britta Lohan Patricia S. Y. Loo, 55 Dalila Lucien, 17 Elias Luevano, 42 Katherine Elizabeth “Katie” Lychner, 8 Pamela Rogers Lychner, 37 Shannon Evian Lychner, 10 Francois Manchuelle, 43 Etienne Maresq Nicolas Maresq Betty Ruth Martin, 69 Salvator Mazzola, 36 Pamela Cobb McPherson, 45 Giuseppe Mercurio, 26 Rodolphe Mérieux, 27 Avishaim Meshulam, 32 Pascal Michel Amy Carole Siekerman Miller, 29 Elizabeth Miller, 50 Gideon Beiler Miller, 57 Joan Williams Miller, 60 Kyle Miller, 29 Robert Miller, 62 Angela Jean Murta, 53 Alecia Carlos Nelson, 45 Twyla Nelson, 8 Cheryl Nibert, 17 Gadi Notes, 29 Caitlin Marie O'Hara Janet O'Hara, 39 John O'Hara, 39 Rebecca Jane Olsen, 20 Alan Orman, 49 Elsie Ostachiewicz, 49 Chelsie Ostachiewicz, 8 Huguette Paquet Ingrid Paquet Serge Pares, 29 Judy Ellen Penzer, 48 Marion Ott Percy, 77 Dennis Price, 49 Peggy Price, 49 Brenda Kay Graham Privette, 46 Rico Puhlmann, 62 Elizabeth Puichaud Jacqueline Remy Clyde Kirk Rhein Jr., 43 Scott Rhoads, 48 Brent Richey, 26 Annelyse Richter Noemie Richter Celine Rio Kimberly Rogers, 17 Yonaton Michael Rojany, 19 Barbara Romagna, 76 Katrina M. Rose, 26 Judith Kathryn Rissel Rupert, 53 Barbara Scott, 39 Joseph Scott, 13 Michael Scott, 44 Michelle Seaman, 19 Anna Maria Shorter, 47 Brenna Rae Siebert, 25 Chrisha Louise Siebert, 28 Candace Silverman, 22 Etta Silverman, 53 Eugene Silverman, 54 Jamie Silverman Olivia Simmons, 50 Kristina Skjold William R Story, 51 Carnie Straus Lydie Teang Rachama-Chan Teang Josette Thiery Mauro Tofani, 46 Larissa Uzupis, 15 Lois Rose VanEpps, 58 Rick L Verhaeghe, 48 Lani Warren, 48 Jacqueline Alexis Watson, 18 Jill VictoriaWatson, 32 Thomas Ralph Weatherby III, 13 Monica Michelle Weaver, 16 Ruben Windmiller, 66 Eleanor Veronica Manganiello Wolfson, 51 Wendy Yvonne Wolfson, 16 Bonnie Wolters, 44 Judith Yee, 53 Jean-Jacque Zara, 59

I am certain the passenger lost consciousness as soon as the hull broke. We can only hope nobody experienced the fire and impact.

EastWing saying, “God bless him,” is so incredibly sad.

"I think that was him." "I think so." "God bless him." Those words are painful to listen to... the realisation that they've just witnessed a catastrophic accident, but they still have a job to do.

I was a flight attendant for TWA in 1996 when this happened. I was home when my bonus daughter came out of her room practically screaming that a TWA plane had gone down. I went to the TV instantly and saw the images of fire on the water where the plane had impacted. My heart sank further than it ever had in my life to that point, knowing I'd lost several brothers and sisters in that tragedy. When you work for an airline, you really do become part of a family, and you mourn their loss as if it was your own. Still hard to think about that day every year, even 26 years later. 😭💔

My son’s friend David Babb was on this flight with his Aunt and Uncle. So very sad for the New Wilmington Pa community. 😢 I will never forget this.

This is absolutely one of my worst fears and it’s only gotten worse the older I get. My heart goes out to everyone on that plane, their family and friends. We can only hope that all passengers were knocked unconscious after the initial break up. Just talking about this has my heart rate through the roof.

This is a absolute true story, I was leaving for basic in the Army and had a layover on this exact day, of course my flight was delayed, I walked right by TWA ticket counter and lounge area and saw everyone of these people getting ready to board, I left about half hour later only to learn the sad truth, wow I can still see there faces,there was a mom with two daughters there I’ll never forget them I don’t know why that family sticks in my mind but knowing how they suffered, Jesus I couldn’t imagine today losing my sons that way and my wife, I pray for the families everyday, again a great video

RIP my dear friend and superstar photographer Rico Puhlmann on this flight... you are missed bigtime buddy... :(

I remember this day so clearly as I lived in the area and know someone who lost a relative. Watching this animation was gut wrenching. God bless all those lost.

What really gets me about this crash is how you can hear the other pilots in the area rallying together and doing their utmost to give information to the ATC. Truly professional. While they were sadly unable to save any lives that day, they still did their best in making sure the wreckage was located as quickly as possible. And that "God bless him" from what I presume to be the Eastern pilot was just heartbreaking. Can't help but hear the defeat in the poor guy's voice, even if there was nothing more he could do.

imagine being a pilot, flying a plane miles above the ocean, and watching another plane explode. i can't even begin to imagine what went through all the cockpit crews heads watching that

My neighbor was a Coast Guardsman in command of a motor whaleboat who responded to this crash. He wasn't given any details about it, and thought it was a light aircraft he was headed for. Then he spotted flames on the surface of the sea. Getting closer, suddenly he could see passengers, still attached to their seats, floating to the surface. They tried to pull people aboard but could see there was no hope.

I am retired now. However, I used to work for TWA years ago. When I heard about this flight, I was in shock! Even when TWA was hijacked back in the 80's. Many prayers for these families! My family is an airline family, and we always said prayer for safe travel. 🙏🏼🕊🤙🏽🌺

I was a TWA pilot at that time. I had bids in for 727 Captain, with next choice 747 copilot. I got the 727, and was the junior captain at all of TWA. Had just one pilot senior to me taken that slot, I would have been the most junior copilot on the 747. The pilot who got that 747 bid, was my friend. He was on reserve, and was assigned to deadhead on flight 800, which he did. So, I missed being that guy, by a strike of fate. I knew about 8 of those who perished. The flight engineer in training, was the son of my friend that I’d known since 1978😢. Prayers to all, RIP

I was the chief purser on Alitalia 609 from JFK, after take off I’d gone into the flight deck to ask the guys if they wanted a drink. The capt was in already on the radio with the ground with this communication on what they’d just witnessed. All I saw was the flames in the sea. Very somber flight home to Milan. RIP to all involved

Reporting the explosion and at the same time having to fly your airplane...i cant imagine the stress level...

The atc repeatedly calling for TWA 800 and then realizing it was them who exploded breaks my heart

My aunt and uncle were watching two neighborhood girls whose parents and grandparents were on this flight, going to Paris for their anniversary. They had to tell them what happened and coordinate with relatives who would take them afterwards. Heart goes out to everyone lost and their families that endured ❤

I was supposed to be on that flight with my parents and brother. About two weeks before, our TWA Getaway tour was canceled due to not enough people signed up. They asked if we still wanted to use the airfare tickets but we declined. We were refunded and we went to Hawaii instead. I think of everyone on board as well as the families affected, every anniversary.

I worked for AT&T at the time and we had customers that lived in Long Island that swore they saw a rocket launched from the ground, aimed at the jet, hitting the airline.

I’ve seen so many of these I’ve almost become numb to them but this one got me emotional. Just hearing the other captain say “god bless him”

My parents were on the Athens to JFK flight. The flight right before this one. It was their 10th anniversary trip. It’s still affects them, especially my mom. It could’ve been them that lost their life and my siblings and I would’ve been orphans. What a tragedy for all these victims and their families.

It is believed by some that passengers in the rear section of the plane could have remained very conscious until the plane hit the water. THAT is about as terrifying a way to die that I can conceive.

Watching this and seeing first the front of the plane fall away and then the rest of it engulfed in flames as it came down - what absolute terror there must have been among those poor passengers and crew. RIP to all who lost their lives and condolences to the loved ones they left behind. 🕯🕯🕯

French guitarist Marcel Dadi, friend of Chet Atkins whom he played with days before at the Opry was on that flight. RIP to all the victims

As a retired B747 Captain...I can tell you the radio transmissions indicated TOTAL professionalism...by the book, attention to detail. These guys were SHARP. I doubt you could have had a more experienced, capable flight crew. So sad for the new FE. I lived in Westhampton, New York flying G3's (after airline retirement) out of Islip at the time. The wife of a co-captain of mine who lived in Quogue saw the entire thing...from the ground. She just happened to be looking and it greatly grieved her when she found out what it was.

Imagine the few moments between the cockpit being ripped off and the hull of the aircraft crashing into the water. I imagine many if not most passengers were still alive and conscious during that. Each second must have felt longer than a century. What a horrible way to go. Sorry for all the lives that were lost that day.

Who can EVER forget the VERY moment we heard about this horrific tragedy, EVER ?? My Late husband & I had been planning another trip to Europe. To Paris, actually. I LOVE France. But my fear of flying FAR outweighs my love of France. Less than seven months before, we had returned from a two-month vacation of both France & Germany. My husband was unaware of how ill he was & I knew we had less than a full year left to us. Still, I could NOT bring myself to make reservations for this trip, my fear of flying, as I've said far, FAR exceeds my terror of just walking onto a plane. I cannot even imagine the terror these innocent people experienced. I just pray all these children, women and men were deep in the middle of a hungry kiss, a tight hug, a silly laugh, a song of love, a flirty wink, a loving whisper, a loving touch, holding hands, a loving embrace, a sexy squeeze, a loving smile, or hopefully, maybe even a slow dance. Anything, EXCEPT, what my mind ABSOLUTELY refuses to accept. This year, I send this to the Families of all the Souls lost that day. I have NEVER been able to forget that day, nor will I ever !! On 17 July 2023, it will be 27 years that they ALL left us and every year, I repeat the same words of "High Flight" by John MaGee, Jr. These words mean so much to me. My Late husband was a pilot, and I know exactly what these words meant to him, as well as to other Pilots in the Military. John MaGee, JR wrote "High Flight" on 3 September 1941, only three months before he would die, in a flight accident. John was an American, born in China, to Missionary parents. John earned a Scholarship to Yale, but in 1940, John enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and became a Pilot. On 3 September 1941, John finished writing "High Flight" & sent it to his parents. On 11 December 1941, John's Spitfire, collided with another plane over England & he was killed instantly. John's mother was British & he is buried near his parents. John was 19 when he died. Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings: Sunward I've climbed & joined the tumbling mirth. Of sun-split clouds------and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of------wheeled and soared and swung. High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue. I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy Grace, Where never lark, nor even eagle flew----- And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the Face of God. John Gillespie MaGee, JR 3 September 1941 9 June 1922 -- 11 December 1941

RIP to all who lost their lives. AND Bravo to all the engineers at Boeing and NTSB for pulling up all the pieces and piecing it all back together again to solve the problem. I remember engineers from many top schools were invited to help with recreating the tank explosion to know for sure what happened.

I cannot imagine how terrifying this must’ve been for these poor people.

"I think that was him. God bless him." Makes me well up every time I hear it. I try to approach safety studies in a rigorous, cool and scientific way, but sometimes it really hits you.

Thank you for all the hard work you do on these videos. The production quality is better than most network television's coverage. I really hope you are making a good living off of this channel, because you deserve it.

One of my favorite Vogue photographers Rico Puhlman died on that flight. Took great shots of Cindy Crawford

I just cannot begin to imagine the horror and terror everyone felt on that plane. God bless them all.😢

I was a TWA ticket agent at JFK at that time. 😢 I will never forget it for the rest of my life. It was my day off and one of my coworkers called me hysterically and told me what happened. I put my uniform on and drove to our TWA terminal. 😭😭 It’s the worst experience in my life, seeing all the family members of the deceased showing up at the terminal screaming, crying, throwing themselves on the ground..OMG! I try not to talk about it because I break down every time. We end up going to the hotel just outside the airport to assist our managers and other personnel’s including The Red Cross with the families of the deceased. There were people on the ground in the lobby crying and as employees without training for situations as this, we hugged them and cried so much. So many unaccompanied children perished not to mention our other dear beloved passengers and our crew. We also had a dead head crew onboard traveling to Paris to bring back an aircraft…. They all perished! I remember a young flight attendant fresh out of training, this was her first flight. She perished. This is the worst experience in my life😭😭. This pain will never go away! R.I.P. you beautiful souls! You’ll never be forgotten. TWA 🙏🏾😭😭

That "God bless him" really broke my heart. Such a tragic incident. RIP to all those on that plane.

My friend Christina was a flight attendant for twa..she took that day off..that was supposed to be her flight...two of her girlfriends also flight attendance took that flight....I heard the news the day it happened..I was at a loss..

God that is one of the most incredibly experienced flight crews ever. 120+ years combined at TWA and the Air Force for the 3 pilots. Incredible. Too bad in this particular case it didn't matter.

I've heard the audio before, and the tone shift you hear in their voices when they realise which plane it was... heart-breaking.

As an aircraft mechanic, it was mandatory to study this accident annually.

I am an aviation enthusiast. This tragic accident has gripped me and will not let go. May the victims of TWA flight 800 rest in peace. I am wondering what happened to that patient who was supposed to get that organ. Does anyone know?

A friend of mine's step-father was on that flight. He was a pilot. Going to France to pick up a plane to fly home. Never made it. Sadly, the father of that same friend died years earlier in a crash here, in NY, 😢 He was a pilot as well. So sad. I remember that night. I was in Westchester County and was on the phone with my other friend when the news broke. My friend lived in Selden (on Long Island). She wasn't far from Moriches Beach. Rumors came out that a missile was seen hitting the plane but was not the case, supposedly. May all the lost souls on that Flight 800 rest in peace🙏😢💔🙏

My sister was planning to fly to Paris to meet our other sister that was already in Europe on vacation. She was looking at plane tickets and had two options: TWA800 or another flight leaving a day later. Luckily, she decided to stay an extra day in NYC and purchased a ticket for the other flight.

My heart goes out to that high school class on board on their way to Paris. I'm 17 and I can only put myself in their shoes and imagine if that were my class on that plane with my friends. Truly so sad and terrifying for all of the poor people.

I remember this like it was yesterday. Such a horrific event. I also remember the controversy surrounding this crash. Countless people stating they saw something rising from the ocean (implying a missile). I never followed things to that extent. This was a well done video.

A message to the people who missed that flight or was on the previous flight, you should be thankful that you are still alive to this day. RIP to all 230 passengers on TWA flight 800.

That is absolutely terrifying as hell. You cant even go over how scary that entire situation is. Dont even wanna think about it. To see the plane rip apart like that. Rest in peace to all on-board.

My friend had a huge number of relatives from France that had come over for their first trip to America, and meeting their American relatives, and were on their way homeward bound back to France. An entire section of family, his aunts, uncles and young cousins all perished that day. 😢 God bless them all.

My biggest fear of flying has always been succumbing to a plane crash.

My condolences to all involved. It was a great loss to the guitar community when hearing gifted French guitarist Marcel Dadi was onboard

When you know the circumstances and sequence of events that lead to things like this, it’s crazy to think about how thin the line between life and death can be and you’d never even know it.

My nephew was the chief (and only) reporter from the USCG sent to cover this tragedy. He was deeply affected & suffered a great trauma as a result. The pictures I saw were heart wrenching

What a terrifying way to die. My deepest sympathies to the families left behind.

RIP to *Dr Ghassan Haurani and his wife Nina* - my family knew theirs and this was an absolutely devastating loss!

I grew up on Long Island and I remember this. We’d go down to the ocean and see them pulling wreckage out of the water. They were pulling bodies and wreckage out for what seemed like forever. The bodies were taken to the morgue a few miles from my old house, I always thought about them as I would pass it. It’s the crash that stopped me from flying for many years.

What a horrible disaster and how awful that nearly every single pilot was extremely experienced, probably nearing retirement age. Yet not one of them, with all of their combined years of experience could have done a thing to save this doomed flight. Such a tragic story. My heart and prayers go out to all of the families affected by this. Thank you for handling this recreation, as always, with such respect and compassion and factual research and animations.

I thought that flight 800 was the one a lot of people said it was hit by something fired from the ocean and the government said it was not, just an optical illusion? At that time the Navy was also doing exercise in the area.

May they reopen the investigation and finally give these people justice. To any seamen or airmen involved in this, it's time to step forward.

This was the end of the era for TWA after this flight. So sad and tragic. So many tragic bombings, operational problems, and terrorism acts through the 70s to 2001. May the families of the victims be at peace with this tragedy.

I was flying into JFK that night, my captain screaming over the intercom for the stewardess to go up front. They wouldn’t let us land we were circling around. My family heard a plane crashed and wasn’t sure if it was our plane. They didn’t want to call my parents. I’ll never forget this night. May all RIP for flight 800

I remember this and also remember how there were people saying they saw a missile fired from the ground up to the plane. Never knew what the official report was till now.

This is also the flight many citizens reported seeing a missile take down. Search for the documentary.

Taking a moment to appreciate all the hard work that went into the making of this video. I never heard the communication with ATC before. RIP to all the victims of this terrible disaster.

My mentor, friend and boss Jed Johnson was on this flight - to this day the most difficult thing I’ve ever gone through in my life. At the time it shattered me … devastating.

These people's sacrifice made us all safer. Learning from problems is the best thing about the airline industry (besides the quick travel convenience). Thank you for your service.

My grade school ESL teacher Mrs. Miller was on this flight. I didn’t know her much other than seeing her in the hallway, but she always had this sort of elegant pleasantness about her. Our town was devastated when this happened. Such a tragedy.

I am not a conspiracy theorist in any way. I am a retired aircraft mechanic that worked heavy maintenance on 747-100,-200, -400 and SP series. The explanation given by the FAA was logical and on point. But I just have one question, in all the years of these aircraft flying earlier to the crash, why didn’t this happen before ?

I never forgot what I was told as a young man and now that I’m 54 it’s about as true as it gets. Throughout the history of mankind only a very fortunate few get to die in their sleep. The rest of us? We go out the same way in, KICKING AND SCREAMING. This is a cold hard fact we ALL must face one day. Live your life as if it were your last day. Always tell the people in your life how much you appreciate and love them. Remember to always be a good and honorable person because your honor is the ONLY thing that you can take with you when you die. ✌️🙏✌️

This is why I would never take an airplane.

I cant even imagine what the poor poor passengers were thinking in those vital seconds. Rest in peace

This strikes me in so many ways. I flew to Athens on TWA that night. I did not know that the plane that exploded had originated in Athens the prior flight. We were delayed departing JFK. I don’t remember hearing a reason for the delay, but I remember hearing of the crash slowly filtering through the plane a few hours into our flight. I still think that there could have been a good chance I passed some of the passengers who died in the terminal.

My first year working at Boeing, and this happens. And 5 years prior I'd flown on a Fed Ex 747. The other 747 incident that sticks out in my mind is the cargo door flying off taking out a section of the fuselage and controls, and sucked some passengers out. They managed to land that sucker and save the remainder of the passengers, what a scary ride that must have been. RIP to the victims. The other sad time to be at work at Boeing was the 9/11 event.

There were multiple videos of this flight that were shown on the news with what appeared to be a an object heading towards the plane, then the plane exploded when the object reached it. I've been looking for these videos for years, but they're nowhere to be found. Coincidentally, a naval training mission involving AA weaponry was happening in that area on when this happened. Over 250 witness reported seeing the object and were even shown on the news, but these witness reports stopped and were memoryholed shortly thereafter.

I can't imagine losing my wife and kids on a flight like that and being the one who stayed behind for whatever reason. How do you come back from that. Also the way in which the plane broke apart, you know people's last moments were quite long and filled with terror and discomfort if they were concious for the descent. RIP

I remember hearing a high school track and field standout from the bay area where I'm from was on this flight. Dan Gabor was a 800 meter track star. I saw him run at a few track meets but didn't know him personally. Was shocked to hear he was on flight 800. Rip Dan Gabor

I remember this in 1996. The crew and passengers that got off must have felt incredibly thankful when they heard the horrific news a few hours later. God bless those that perished.

I've read large swaths of the reports on this. I was impressed how meticulously thorough and complete the multiple investigations were. Some additional details not mentioned in this video: 1. Investigators flew another 747 under similar conditions, monitored by multiple instruments, and were shocked by how hot the interior of the center fuel tank got. Up until that time, it was assumed that the center tank had enough separation and insulation to not get dangerously hot under normal flight conditions. 2. The TWA 800 airliner had repeatedly been serviced for water leaking from a bathroom. Under the floor near that bathroom passed several wiring harnesses, including one with low-voltage sensor wires running from the center fuel tank, and another with wires carrying high voltage. This is very likely where the short circuit occurred which injected high voltage into the center tank. High voltage crossing into the sensor wires would have produced the "crazy" readings the pilots were heard discussing on the Cockpit Voice Recorder shortly before the explosion. 3. The researchers went through the trouble and expense of finding a retired 747, reproduced the temperatures and conditions and fuel level that the fatal flight would have had, and set a spark at the location of the sensor in the center tank (while parked on the ground). The test 747 exploded and broke apart like TWA 800, in fact it exploded somewhat more violently. 4. Investigators went over all the debris pieces recovered from TWA 800, and found no traces of bomb damage or missile residue (two common conspiracy theories regarding TWA 800). 5. Airliner fuel tank explosions are uncommon (thankfully), but not unheard of. There have been several other instances, includes some that occurred on the ground before takeoff and fully documented as unfortunate accidents, which undercuts the folks who claim only a missile or such can blow apart a plane.

While any fatal crash is a devastating tragedy, usually in crashes caused by mechanical failures you have a flight crew fighting valiantly until the very end that you can take a little bittersweet pride in. At least you get a feeling that they didn't give up and they went down swinging. This disaster has always stuck out to me because not only did these guys not do anything wrong, but they were robbed of any semblance of a chance to save their plane. The helplessness of free falling into the ocean without even being able to put up a last-ditch effort to save themselves and their passengers ... it's just so unbelievably heartbreaking and so infuriatingly unfair.

Used to work for TWA back in my 20’s as a Flight Service Manager and when this happened I had been away from the company for nearly 5 years, but it hit home because I had worked that flight on several occasions. God Bless all who perished on that day…

Conspiracy theorists believe us naval ship “accidentally” fired some sort of missile hitting TWA800…….

You never know the hour or day. May their end have been quick and painless. To their survivers, my deepest sympathies.

I remember when this happened I had a strong (and strange) feeling that I knew someone on the flight. When the passenger list was announced, my feeling was very sadly validated. A guy I ran track with in high school was on the flight. I read that he was heading to a friend’s wedding in Paris. He was a really cool guy, very quiet and sweet. He was also a great runner. I was so sad for his mom. Still can’t believe what happened. Prayers for the families who lost loved ones. ❤

For all those commenters who worry that those onboard suffered a terrifying demise they more than likely didn't know what had happened: when the initial explosion occurred there was a sudden massive deceleration in the plane which would have thrown everyone forward, smashing their heads into the seats in front. Autopsies suggested that most onboard died from broken necks or head trauma and would have at least been unconscious as the plane broke up if not already dead. It is very very unlikely anyone was alive and conscious as the plane caught fire and disintegrated.

I can’t even imagine the horror the passengers experienced

I remember seeing this in the news as a child. I was 11 almost 12 years old. At this point I decided I would never fly in any aircraft. And I love aviation. I've never flown in my entire life. I wanted to be a USMC fighter pilot. But the other pilot that whitenessed the explosion and subsequent fireball and his conviwith the ATC "God bless him" made me tear up. Thank you for the information in your videos.

Man, seem like this plane was sending all kinds of signals to say "Do not take off in me, ground me, people and circuits be messing up everywhere".

This was easily the most heart-breaking crash for me, the fact the pilots had 0 warning that anything was wrong and 0 chance to even act to the situation to even have a 0.0001% chance to save the plane. In many crashes, even fully fatal ones, the pilots have time to react, time to at least try and save the plane, even if it would be nigh impossible. Here there was nothing, not even a thought, not a single action. Just a ball of fire hurtling towards the ocean below. RIP all aboard TWA 800

My friend Joe Grecos was crewman on the recovery ship that was on scene for the salvage. He gave me one of the small buoy toggles they were using for body retrieval as a souvenir.

Oh I remember this! I was 10 and we watched the whole coverage on TV. Absolutely horrific. I don't understand why people want flying cars after what we've been through.

This happened essentially in my "backyard" as I lived on the waterfront near Moriches Inlet at the time. I remember first hearing all the call sirens going off summoning volunteer first responders to their stations and one of my housemates at the time (who was volunteer EMS) bolting out the door with his "go bag". Moments later you could see the flashing blue lights of Coast Guard and police boats heading out of the inlet and then the rumbling of helicopters from the 106th Rescue Squadron in Westhampton flying overhead. Thinking is was some sort of local marine incident, I didn't think too much about it until my girlfriend at the time called from work and ask if a plane had crashed off the beach near my house. That's when I turned on the TV and started looking for information. Of course the initial thoughts went towards terrorism and everyone in the area with a boat basically became a suspect. In the passing weeks nearly everyone on the water had been questioned, the night of the crash was probably the only recent evening that we had not been out on my boat, so I didn't have any firsthand information. A few weeks later though, we left moriches bay and headed out the inlet, which was finally free of Coast Guard and Police boats and seemed to be returning to normal, though the salvage operation was still going offshore at the main debris field. Unfortunately, after a few minutes out in the ocean, we found several pieces of suspected wreckage, each smelling like jet fuel and covered with glitter. It turns out that some of the kids were going to Paris to perform with their theater group and glitter was part of their cargo. Anyway, we gathered up the pieces and brought them to the nearby USCG Station Moriches at which point my boat was seized, myself and my passengers disembarked and my entire boat searched and swabbed from stem to stern while a cadre of MPs, FBI and other uniformed and un-uniformed folks stood by with their rifles at the ready. The parts were gathered, we were all I.D.'d and questioned and eventually allowed to reboard my boat and leave. The entire surrounding area is very close knit (or at least was at the time) and serviced by volunteer fire and EMS companies, this operation changed many lives, the things they saw out on the water that night were truly horrifying and not easy to forget, my housemate that went out that night resigned shortly after, he had seen a lot during his volunteer career, but this was the thing that broke him. Everyone always prays for the lost and their surviving family members and if you are the type of person that says prayers in these situations, please remember to say a few words for those who heed the call and volunteer to respond to these disasters.

Michel Briesroff, a well known hockey player, was on this flight, along with Courtney Whitmore, The sister of Geoff Johns and the inspiration of DC’s Stargirl series. That “I think so” from the Boston controller….I could hear the sadness in his voice…… ugh heart wrenching. Kudos to the controllers and other pilots for pulling together in that situation and acting like one unit. Like a big family of aviators looking out for one another……

I was chief cabin crew on Alitalia 609, was taking drinks to the captain and SFO at the time and saw the debris floating. As crew our hearts went out to our colleagues at TWA plus all those involved. Said a silent prayer as we flew over.

I remember the news well. It happened approximately a year before princess Diana was killed. There were students on that flight,very excited expecting to go to France. Instead went to a watery grave. May their souls return to their place of origin. So sad.😢