Despite all the fears and conspiracy theories, the conclusion is ``inescapable'' that an explosion of vapors in a fuel tank is what brought down TWA Flight 800 four years ago.
Published:
23 August 2000 y., Wednesday
Despite all the fears and conspiracy theories, the conclusion is ``inescapable'' that an explosion of vapors in a fuel tank is what brought down TWA Flight 800 four years ago at a loss of 230 lives, a top federal investigator concluded Tuesday.
Investigators ``cannot be certain'' what ignited the blast, but the most likely cause was an electrical short in wiring inside the tank, said Bernard S. Loeb, aviation safety director of the National Transportation Safety Board.
The physical evidence, he said, ``leads to the inescapable conclusion'' that the plane was brought down by a fuel-air explosion inside the center wing tank.
As the meeting wore on, Robert Swaim of the aviation engineering section expressed the frustration of investigators seeking the source of ignition. ``I would love to walk in here with a molten piece of wire and say, 'Here it is,''' he said.
Loeb said there was no evidence that metal fatigue, corrosion, recent repairs of the plane, a bomb or a missile was involved in the disaster off the coast of New York's Long Island.
The Boeing 747 crashed on July 17, 1996, shortly after taking off from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York en route to Paris.
Investigator James Wildey of the NTSB's materials laboratory explained that the explosion originated in the huge fuel tank located where the wing spars pass through the plane's center. The tank was partly empty and air conditioners located beneath the tank had given off heat, warming the fuel during a long wait for takeoff.
Šaltinis:
AP
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Civil unrest in Kyrgyzstan last week left over 70 people dead, more than 1500 injured and over 500 hospitalized.
more »
After lots were drawn, ten winners of Danske Bankas scholarships and one winner of an iPod shuffle player were established.
more »
The health of Chinese civil rights activist Hu Jia is causing real fears after reports that the winner of the Parliament's 2008 Sakharov human rights prize is ailing with liver disease.
more »
Nestled in the northeast plains of India, Bihar is one of the poorest states in the country. Its per capita income is just a fraction of that in other Indian states.
more »
One day after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake rattled the Mexico-California border area, Mexico‘s President visits one of the affected areas.
more »
Roma communities, the European Union’s largest ethnic minority, continue to face persistent discrimination and segregation.
more »
This the sound of spring for many in Latvia. With a little guidance from their parents, children at the Riga Zoo made bird boxes in anticipation of the returning migrating birds.
more »
Economic shocks are taking a toll on a population already facing high risks in low-income countries: children.
more »
As celebrations for Easter week get under way millions of the faithful will be heading to Churches across Europe to mark the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
more »
More than 200, 000 riders and their horses are in Uruguay’s capital for South America’s largest rodeo.
more »