A New York-bound Pan Am Flight 103 explodes in mid-air and crashes into the Scottish village of Lockerbie, killing all 259 aboard and 11 on the ground.
Thus begins a saga of assigning blame for the attack, which is ultimately tied to Libyan agents of Muammar Gaddafi’s secret services. Libya formally admitted responsibility 15 years later in August 2003 and offers $2.7 billion compensation to victims’ families.