Air Crash Investigation

The documentary examines the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1988, an event that resulted in the deaths of 270 people. The explosion devastated the Scottish town of Lockerbie, leaving a lasting impact on the community for its residents.

Lockerbie is a documentary programme presented as a single episode. It is positioned as a factual account that examines one of the most devastating terrorist incidents in recent British history, using a straightforward, reportage‑style approach. The core of the film centres on the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which took place in December 1988. A bomb detonated aboard the aircraft, killing all 270 passengers and crew members on board. The programme details the scale of that loss, noting how the explosion abruptly ended the lives of a large number of people travelling between continents. Beyond the immediate tragedy, the documentary highlights the profound effect the blast had on the Scottish town of Lockerbie. The town, a relatively small community, was virtually wiped out in an instant, leaving a landscape of ruin and a population grappling with grief and shock. The film underscores how the event reshaped the daily lives of the residents and altered the town’s physical and emotional environment. In its concluding sections, Lockerbie offers viewers a concise, factual recap of the incident and its aftermath, drawing together the key statistics and the stark reality of the devastation. By sticking closely to the known details – the date, the flight, the death toll and the impact on Lockerbie – the programme provides a clear, unembellished portrait of a tragedy that still resonates today.