GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK – The following is a joint statement from the Pan Am Historical Foundation, the Pan Am Museum Foundation, World Wings International, and the Clipper Pioneers. While Pan Am no longer exists as an airline, these four organizations represent the Pan Am family today.
“It will be 34 years next week since the tragic and senseless bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. We remember all the victims: the passengers, the Pan Am crew, and those killed on the ground. Our deepest condolences to the families of those who were lost.
That day forever changed the Pan Am family and still brings the deepest sadness and sorrow in reflection. The United States was deliberately attacked by terrorists and our beloved airline was the target. In the aftermath of this horrible terrorist attack, we saw the sunlight of what is good in humanity as we witnessed the neighbors and citizens of Lockerbie coming together to help all involved, especially the families of the victims.
This past Sunday, we were given some solace knowing that American justice may finally be served with the arrest and extradition of the suspect in the bombing of Pan Am 103, Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi (Mas’ud). We thank the United States Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the wider intelligence community for their decades-long dedication to bringing those responsible to justice. They have never forgotten about Pan Am Flight 103 and we are forever grateful.”
AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW: Linda Freire, Pan Am veteran who was sent to the United Kingdom in the aftermath bombing to assist families and employees as part of Pan Am Emergency Response Team. She is now the co-founder and board chair of the Pan Am Museum Foundation. Listen to her story: https://podcast.thepanammuseum.org/1836491/9627436-episode-12-lockerbie-and-flight-103-remembrance
About the Pan Am Historical Foundation
Established in 1992 by a group of former Pan Am employees to honor, preserve and promote the legacy of Pan Am and continues its mission to provide and promulgate a comprehensive account of the airline’s unique historic contributions to aviation.
About the Pan Am Museum
Opened in 2016, the mission of the Pan Am Museum is to educate, celebrate, and inspire present and future generations by preserving historical and diverse personal stories of Pan American World Airways.
About World Wings International
Founded in 1959, World Wings International is the philanthropic organization of former Pan Am flight attendants that seeks to maintain the long Pan Am tradition of global humanitarian assistance and to safeguard the airline’s place in aviation history. World Wings fulfills their mission through four international and 25 domestic chapters.
About Clipper Pioneers
Clipper Pioneers is an organization of retired Pan Am pilots and crew.
