Changes

'''TWA Flight 800''' was an airliner which exploded and crashed killing 230 off [[Long Island]] on July 17, 1996. There were no survivors. The [[National Transportation Safety Board]] found that the crash was caused by the explosion of the center wing tank, possibly triggered by an electrical short.

'''TWA Flight 800''' was an airliner which exploded and crashed off [[Long Island]] on July 17, 1996 killing 230 people. There were no survivors. The [[National Transportation Safety Board]] found that the crash was caused by the explosion of the center wing tank, possibly triggered by an electrical short.

The aircraft, a [[Boeing 747]], is one of three Boeing jets since 1990 to fall victim to apparently spontaneous center wing tank explosions. The fuel tank of a Philippine Airlines Boeing 737 exploded in Manila in 1990 and the fuel tank of a Thai Airways International B737 exploded in Bangkok in 2001. In all three cases, the tanks had been emptied and contained only gasoline vapor and residual fuel. All three aircraft exploded on warm summer days. Since 2008, the Federal Aviation Administration has required inerting systems to address this problem.<ref>Evans, David, "[https://www.aviationtoday.com/2001/06/01/safety-in-avionics-time-to-stop-fuel-tank-explosions/ Safety in Avionics: Time to Stop Fuel Tank Explosions]", ''Avionics International'', June 1, 2001.</ref>

The aircraft, a [[Boeing 747]], is one of three Boeing jets since 1990 to fall victim to apparently spontaneous center wing tank explosions. The fuel tank of a Philippine Airlines Boeing 737 exploded in Manila in 1990 Pand the fuel tank of a Thai Airways International B737 exploded in Bangkok in 2001. In all three cases, the tanks had been emptied and contained only gasoline vapor and residual fuel. All three aircraft exploded on warm summer days. Since 2008, the Federal Aviation Administration has required inerting systems to address this problem.<ref>Evans, David, "[https://www.aviationtoday.com/2001/06/01/safety-in-avionics-time-to-stop-fuel-tank-explosions/ Safety in Avionics: Time to Stop Fuel Tank Explosions]", ''Avionics International'', June 1, 2001.</ref>

Although the [[Clinton Administration]] declared the cause of the explosion to be accidental, numerous eyewitnesses saw what appeared to be a missile strike the jet.

Based on eyewitness testimony, Pierre Salinger, former press secretary for President John F. Kennedy, suggested the possibility of a missile strike. A missile strike would cause fragments to penetrate the plane at a much higher velocity than a fuel tank explosion would. Investigators found 163 fragmentation holes in the wreckage. All but two of these holes showed signs of low-velocity penetration.<ref>Pappalardo, Joe, "[https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a9158/3-reasons-to-doubt-the-twa-flight-800-conspiracy-theory-15629315/ 3 Reasons to Doubt the TWA Flight 800 Conspiracy Theory], ''Popular Mechanics'', Jun 26, 2013.</ref>

* Witnesses, many on the ground, reported seeing a bright object "streaking" towards the 747. The object in question turned in midair as it closed on the jumbo jet. Witnesses reported horizontal travel, as well as vertical.<ref>[http://whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/CRASH/TWA/twa.html]</ref>

Witnesses, many on the ground, reported seeing a bright object "streaking" towards the 747. The object in question turned in midair as it closed on the jumbo jet. Witnesses reported horizontal travel, as well as vertical.<ref>[http://whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/CRASH/TWA/twa.html]</ref>

One theory states the flight was brought down by a [[Stinger missile]] supplied to the [[Afghan mujihadeen]] during the [[Anti-Soviet jihad]] of the 1980s and smuggled back into the [[United State]]. The [[bin Laden]] network and [[Iran]], responsible for the [[World_Trade_Center#1993_Bombing_Attack|World Trade Center bombing]], [[Khobar Towers bombing]], and attack on the [[USS Cole]] about the same time, may have been involved.<ref>https://thefederalist.com/2018/09/18/need-know-intelligence-agencies-covered-1996-crash-twa-800/</ref>

One theory states the flight was brought down by a [[Stinger missile]] supplied to the [[Afghan mujihadeen]] during the [[Anti-Soviet jihad]] of the 1980s and smuggled back into the [[United State]]. The [[bin Laden]] network and [[Iran]], responsible for the [[World_Trade_Center#1993_Bombing_Attack|World Trade Center bombing]], [[Khobar Towers bombing]], and attack on the [[USS Cole]] about the same time, may have been involved.<ref>https://thefederalist.com/2018/09/18/need-know-intelligence-agencies-covered-1996-crash-twa-800/</ref>