Netflix's new series, 'The Bombing Of Pan Am 103,' dramatizes the aftermath and investigation of the terrorist attack that brought down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988. The series focuses on the investigation, drawing from research and interviews with investigators and victims' families.
The series opens on December 21, 1988, at London's Heathrow Airport, depicting the passengers of Flight 103 preparing for their journey to New York. Meanwhile, in Lockerbie, the town is struck by a catastrophic explosion as the plane disintegrates in mid-air, raining debris and bodies onto the community. Scottish police, led by DCS John Orr, are immediately called to the scene to manage the recovery and preserve evidence.
In the United States, the FBI is alerted to the incident, with Special Agent Dick Marquise advocating for the immediate deployment of explosives specialist Tom Thurman to Scotland. Despite initial hesitation to avoid causing panic, Marquise secures approval, and Thurman heads to Scotland to assist in the investigation.
The series highlights the challenges faced by investigators, including jurisdictional skirmishes and the unprecedented scale of the disaster. DCS John Orr is portrayed as a central figure, emphasizing the need for meticulous evidence preservation and respectful treatment of victims.
'The Bombing Of Pan Am 103' is the second scripted series in recent years to explore the 1988 attack, following Peacock's 'Lockerbie: A Search for Truth,' which focused on a victim's parent's efforts to spur the investigation. This new Netflix drama, created by Jonathan Lee, aims for a straightforward portrayal of the events and the subsequent investigation.
The investigation eventually concluded that two Libyan intelligence officers were responsible for the bombing, with Libya handing them over in 1999. The series does not aim to assign blame for the prolonged investigation or the time it took to bring perpetrators to justice. Instead, it credits the cast and the writers for giving the investigators depth beyond their professional roles, making for a compelling narrative. The cast includes Connor Swindells as DS Ed McCusker, Patrick J. Adams as Special Agent Dick Marquise, Peter Mullan as DCS John Orr, and Merritt Wever as Kathryn Turman, who worked with the FBI's Victim Services Division.