Richierich From United States, joined Nov 2000, 3227 posts, RR: 7 Posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days ago) and read 1709 times:
I know there was a previous thread about the 10-year anniversary but I believe that was locked down, and it had degenerated into an argument between those that believe the official cause and those that feel there is a cover-up or conspiracy.
PLEASE LETS AVOID DISCUSSING the cause of the crash as it seems to incite a lot of controversy.
I want to focus on the human tragedy. Besides family and friends of the victims, it obviously affected many at TWA and beyond. I'm sure the pain for the families is as fresh today as it was 10 years ago - my heart and prayers go out to all of them.
If you have human stories - i.e., you knew any passengers or crew, or were in other ways affected that horrible Wedsnesday evening in 1996, please share.
I should note that today's weather forecast in New York is for high-90s heat plus a lot of hazy humid air. As I recall, this is much like it was 10 years ago. RIP to all victims...... I know you are all missed.
MalpensaSFO From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days ago) and read 1666 times:
It was such a sad event. More so than anything else that we have seen here in the United States. The only other events as tragic would seem to be PSA in San Diego and American Airlines in Chicago. I recall seeing burning debris on CBS at 830pm PST. It was a memnt that sent chills up ones spin.
A month and a day later I left TWA from RNO-STL-JFK-MXP. (MD80/L10/741)We departed from gate 29, aboard the "Star if Madrid" if I recall that was the same gate as flight 800. I was seted upstairs in row 91. The cabin upstairs in Trans World One was small. So I was able to trade with a fellow Trans World One passenger downstairs two rows up in a window seat from the F/A Jumpseat at door 1L. I recall as we waited to take off at a delayed 815pm the sun was still in the distance, as we qued for take off the cabin played classical music, and I noted seeing a Virgin 744, and AF 744 takeoff prior to us. Both flights, if I remember correctly were remarked as having been in the company of the TWA 800 flight the month before. As we took off 13 minutes out we saw the lights of Long Island and a setting sun in the distance. It sent chills to think a month before at nearly the same point after takeoff, at nearly the same altitude, in the same type of plane, such a horrific incident occured.
There were many reports but the one that was most frighteneing was one that mentioined the TransWorld One china and flatware being jetted into the Trans World One cabin walls and seats from the explosion. Trans World One was a classical ambience, and wonderful service, as was TWA. TWA, is something that many people laughed and many of us miss to this day! TWA, was a elegant and one of a kind airline. It was as much American history as Pan Am and the 747. TWA was doing excellent in the summer of 1996. They had been wet-leasing many 747's for that summer as the loads were through the roof and the profit had returned. In fact that summer also saw TWA 767 charters for cruiselines to Copenhagen and Venice using the 762 equipment.
LTBEWR From United States, joined Jan 2004, 9291 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1619 times:
I believe there will be a memorial ceremony at the site of a monunment along the Long Island coast near where this terrible tragedy took place. CNN had a special program on TWA 800, discussing the timeline, talking with victim's friends and family members and about the risks of the fuel systems still with us 10 years later that stand as the 'official' probable cause of it's flight ending.
For us on the East coast, the news broke into regular progaming shortly before 10 pm. I had got home shortly before the story broke, and it was a horrible scene. Of course at first, terrorism was thought by many to have been the cause. The news of the tragedy dominated local news for at least a week, as the extemely difficult recovery of remains of the people and aircraft continued.
To those that died, and to their families and friends, our condolences on this anniversary.
Nosedive From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 1577 times:
I was 10, almost 11, when this happened. I was flying TW from SFO to MEM, via STL, the next day... kinda chilling. There were a few people from Memphis onboard, IIRC. RIP to those on board.
N484ER From United States, joined Dec 2005, 95 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1486 times:
I was only 10 years old when one night watching TV, this accident appeared on the Breaking News. It's the first accident I remember and it's difficult to believe it happened nearly a decade ago.
094147 From United States, joined Nov 2003, 58 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1356 times:
Such an elegant airline lost to the people of the United States and the world. I miss the beautiful white bird with the red stripe and red tail. Pride is the only word that seems appropriate from me, a former employee of 16 years. Love forever is my pledge to the memory of all the passengers and crew of F-800. So many innocent lives cut short. May they all rest in peace.
Contrails From United States, joined Oct 2000, 1607 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1338 times:
I was watching CNN that night when they broke in to report on the crash. As soon as I saw the fire in the water I knew everybody on-board was lost. It was indeed the beginning of the end for TWA. What a tragedy, made even worse with all those kids on board.
OttoPylit From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1216 times:
Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 4): CNN had a special program on TWA 800, discussing the timeline, talking with victim's friends and family members and about the risks of the fuel systems still with us 10 years later that stand as the 'official' probable cause of it's flight ending.
I noticed on that proble last night that they were asking why aircraft makers and airlines have not installed the very heavy and very costly inert gas devices in aircraft since then, with the exception of the military C-5. An official admitted that the cost to loss ratio was less than the benefit from the installation. The estimate was that life loss amounted to the tune of something like $2.2 million per loss. Since then, aircraft makers are promising to install less costly and lighter weight inert devices in newer airplanes down the road. I guess we will see.
Unfortunately, I believe TWA 800 was indeed the death sentence for TWA. Their hurry afterwards to shed the L-1011's and 747's left them with a big gap that a 767 just can't fill. Plus, the bad PR from the crash and court litigation from families certainly did not help any.
Such a mixture of souls aboard, from a hockey player to a group of teens from Montoursville, PA to couples planning to spend their anniversaries in Paris, to even a father and teenage son trying to rekindle a father/son bond. May they all rest in peace.
Alitalia744 From United States, joined Mar 2000, 4296 posts, RR: 47 Reply 13, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1197 times:
Such a sad end to a great airline, a great bird and all of those who lost their lives on-board the aircraft.
I flew on N93119 the year prior on TW 880? (JFK-ATH).
Petmbro From United States, joined Jan 2006, 260 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1170 times:
Wow that's unimaginable that its already been 10 years. TW800 greatly affected me as I almost witnessed that horrible disaster after some friends of mine wanted to go to the beach that night, but I declined. Over here on the Connecticut shore they were able to see a faint flicker of light from the explosion over southern Long Island but figured it was nothing more than fireworks. Unfortunately it wasn't fireworks but TW800. May all those who perished rest in peace, including TWA.
"don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining!" - Judge Judy
RyanAirB737 From United States, joined May 2004, 19 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 1039 times:
I was 12 when TWA800 occurred. At that time I didn't think too much of it. I flew later that year in the Fall when news of the crash was still abundant, but it only made me just slightly nervous. Despite my ambivalence at the time of the accident, it still has a large meaning to me...
Around 15 I developed an irrational fear of flying. My next flight PVD-CLE on Continental was during a very large storm during which the amount of turbulence was frightening. Some passengers were screaming, a guy my age threw up, and the Captain's voice over the PA system about the incident was not too reassuring. I had lost my confidence in air travel, and I swore I would never fly again after that...
In July 1999, I was neurotic when I learned that my parents had booked us tickets to fly to Europe via TWA 900, a 762 (JFK-LIS-BCN), knowing what occurred three years prior. Due to my irrational fear, I spent the rest of the summer researching avation safety, disasters, aircraft types, and the TWA 800 disaster particularly. All of this research ended up turning into an interest in aviation and especially aviation security. I have a lot of respect for these investigators, as well as the people that make the whole operation work on a daily basis.
...
I remember it was pretty scary arriving into JFK that night from LAX for flight 900. It was pouring rain. Terminal 5 was nothing I have ever seen before...a completely different experience from LAX terminals and the others I had seen. Also, security was much tighter there compared to LAX. It might sound ridiculous, but it was weird knowing that I saw the same things that the TWA800 passengers saw before boarding their flight.
Flight 900 as well as the other TWA flights I was on for that trip (I think 842 LAX-JFK, 843 JFK-LAX and 840 MXP-JFK) were by far the smoothest and most enjoyable.
It was sad to see Terminal 5 completely empty on a JetBlue flight during May 2004. TWA was a legacy that departed far too soon.
In summary, this disaster contributed to my fear of flying, which with education, became a fascination with aviation and an interest in aviation safety.
Rest in peace passengers, crew, N93119, TWA. My heart goes out to the families, and previous employees of TWA.
Richierich From United States, joined Nov 2000, 3227 posts, RR: 7 Reply 16, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 911 times:
Quoting OttoPylit (Reply 12): Such a mixture of souls aboard, from a hockey player to a group of teens from Montoursville, PA to couples planning to spend their anniversaries in Paris, to even a father and teenage son trying to rekindle a father/son bond. May they all rest in peace.
BWI757 From Israel, joined Dec 2004, 416 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 858 times:
Article in the New York Daily News about a dedication of a monument near where the plane went down:
Excerpt:
Not far from where TWA Flight 800 exploded over Long Island, hundreds gathered yesterday to mark the decade since the tragedy that killed 230 people.
The memorial service in Smith Point County Park - the closest piece of land to where the jumbo jet exploded - was marked by tears, tributes and the dedication of "The Light," a granite memorial that points out to sea.
FlyDeltaJets From United States, joined Feb 2006, 1242 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 718 times:
Any former JFK TWA ground employees that worked that flight. I would like to hear some of those stories.
Position and hold runway one three right landing traffic on runway two two left
L1011Lover From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 791 posts, RR: 15 Reply 21, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 602 times:
So many sad stories about the passengers and crew of TWA 800.
Well all crashes and catastrophes in general are sad and tragic and have horrible personal stories and fates surrounding them, but the crash of TWA 800 seemed (like Pan Am 103) to be particularly devastating.
I hope that the souls of TWA 800 found peace and are at a safer place now and my thoughts go out to the families and friends of those who perished and those who were affected in any way by the tragic loss of TWA 800.
Hopefully each and everyone of them found some sort of comfort and consolation.
Also I send out my best wishes to all former TWA employees who lost friends and co-workers that day and if it wasn´t bad enough just a few years later many of them lost their jobs and their company which they all tried so desperately to save. After emotional devastation many faced complete and total financial devastation... I hope it turned out good for all of the former TWA employees.
TWA, You´ve done a great job over the decades!!! I will always have fond memories of TWA and will never forget such a great airline.
But what I also find to be really sad: After countless TWA 800 threads over the years, countless discussions, countless post, conspiracy theories and all, on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy the airliners.net community is only able to make it to a TWA 800 post with 21 replies, that is read 1103 times!!!
Obviously the interest in TWA 800 is almost lost as soon as people are asked to leave conspiracy theories out of a thread... sad, sad, sad!!!
However Thank You Richierich for bringing up the topic and creating such a wonderful thread to honor those who died and were affected by TWA 800.
Darrenthe747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 590 times:
Quoting L1011Lover (Reply 21): But what I also find to be really sad: After countless TWA 800 threads over the years, countless discussions, countless post, conspiracy theories and all, on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy the airliners.net community is only able to make it to a TWA 800 post with 21 replies, that is read 1103 times!!!
Obviously the interest in TWA 800 is almost lost as soon as people are asked to leave conspiracy theories out of a thread... sad, sad, sad!!!
Sir, with all due respect, it's tragic when any airplane crashes and lives are lost. but honestly, I never leave posts saying how sad it is that flight xxx crashed this day 1 year ago or 10 years ago. i feel they are the most redundant posts you could ever make. of course i feel sad for the lost, but how many posts of, "i feel so sad for the families of flight xxx" do you need to read through? of course any normal human being feels bad for the lost lives! how many responses do you want to a thread like this?
L1011Lover From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 791 posts, RR: 15 Reply 23, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 580 times:
Definiteley no responses like yours...
I never made any personal assault to anyone... I said I think it is sad... not more!
You could have kept that with yourself or sent me a private message as I don´t like this thread to become a discussion of any sort!
I´m a free person that hast the right to freely tell about his feelings, that´s what I did!
I just think it is kind of sad, that a conspiracy theory thread is read 10.000 times and gets over 150 replies while a thread to honor people is read 1103 times...
If you didn´t realize, this thread isn´t about: "I fell so sorry...!!!" but the human tragedy, the stories behind the tragedy, to remember and honor people and the great airline TWA!
I think it´s sad, not more... I´m not trying to personally assault anyone.
Darrenthe747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 564 times:
Quoting L1011Lover (Reply 23): I´m a free person that hast the right to freely tell about his feelings, that´s what I did!
that's what i did too.
Quoting L1011Lover (Reply 23): I never made any personal assault to anyone... I said I think it is sad... not more!
actually you did say more:
Quoting L1011Lover (Reply 21): After countless TWA 800 threads over the years, countless discussions, countless post, conspiracy theories and all, on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy the airliners.net community is only able to make it to a TWA 800 post with 21 replies, that is read 1103 times!!!
you make it sound like people are somehow disrespectful for not leaving a post saying how they are sorry for the lost. 21 posts out of 1103 times read. i'm sad for them, but leaving a post about it doesn't validate my sadness for them.
Richierich From United States, joined Nov 2000, 3227 posts, RR: 7 Reply 25, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 487 times:
Quoting Darrenthe747 (Reply 24): you make it sound like people are somehow disrespectful for not leaving a post saying how they are sorry for the lost. 21 posts out of 1103 times read. i'm sad for them, but leaving a post about it doesn't validate my sadness for them.
Darren, I started this thread because the TWA crash was very much in the news on Monday. I know that this crash affected a lot of people, even though most did not know any victims or even have any connections to TWA.
Clearly it is your right to post or not to post. I can't say I looked at it from L1011Lover's perspective, regarding the number of posts per number of times read. Frankly, I wanted to keep this thread about the memories of that day, and/or any personal relationships with the crew, passengers or even the airline of that tragic flight. If that meant there were fewer posts because I had asked not to bring the "conspiracy theory" or the cause of the crash into it, then so be it. I'm glad people were respectful of this request.
I'm sure a lot of people were aware of the 10-year anniversary regardless of this thread. The level of mourning you feel ten years later is a personal thing; there are no right or wrong feelings. As I said in my opening post, it was a human tragedy and 230 wonderful people were taken from us. I'm not trying to pontificate or sound all religious (partly because I am not the most religious person in the world). One the one hand, I can't believe 10 years has passed (the world is a different place these days....) but on the other hand, I remember it like it was last month. Such was the affect it had on me, and I am surely not the only one.
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