The Enduring Legacy of Pan Am 103: A Journey of Remembrance, Justice, and Art
The story of Pan Am Flight 103 is one of sudden, devastating loss. On December 21, 1988, a terrorist bomb destroyed the aircraft over Lockerbie, Scotland, ending 270 lives and irrevocably changing countless more. For our founder, Helen Engelhardt, this was not a distant headline; it was the day she lost her husband, Tony Hawkins.
From that personal tragedy, the audio memoir The Longest Night was born—a way to process, document, and share a story that was both intimately personal and tragically public. But the journey did not end there. Today, we are proud to expand this project, exploring the bombing's aftermath through new resources that chronicle the decades-long quest for truth and the enduring power of human compassion.
Chronicling the Quest for Justice: The Pan Am 103 Timeline
Understanding the full scope of the Lockerbie bombing requires looking back at the decades-long legal and political aftermath. To that end, we have launched a comprehensive Pan Am Flight 103 Timeline. This interactive resource details the critical events that followed the attack, including:
The immediate investigation confirming a bomb caused the explosion.
The formation of Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 (VPAF103), a support and advocacy group created by the families to seek truth and improve aviation security.
The civil trial that found Pan Am guilty of "willful misconduct".
The 1991 indictment of two Libyan intelligence agents and the long road to the trial at Camp Zeist.
The ongoing fight for accountability and compensation that stretched for years.
This timeline serves as an essential historical record for students, researchers, and anyone seeking to understand the complex legacy of this event.
The Next Chapter: The Story Takes the Stage in Scotland
The legacy of Lockerbie continues to inspire new forms of remembrance. We are thrilled to share news of Small Acts of Love, a new musical play set to open at Glasgow’s revitalized Citizens Theatre next September.
Written by Frances Poet with original songs by Ricky Ross of Deacon Blue, the play focuses on a remarkable aspect of the aftermath: the response of the Lockerbie community. Poet was inspired by the women of Lockerbie who volunteered to wash, iron, and return the victims' belongings to their families with incredible care. These were the "small acts of love" that forged a bond of compassion between Scotland and the American families. This production brings the story full circle, back to the country where the tragedy unfolded, highlighting a legacy not of hate, but of profound humanity.
The journey of The Longest Night has always been one of remembrance. With these new additions, we hope to provide a deeper, more complete resource for understanding the Pan Am 103 bombing and its lasting impact on the world. We invite you to explore the timeline and follow the development of this powerful new play.
