Case Study Analysis: TWA Flight 800

Case Study Analysis: TWA Flight 800
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Introduction
Several experts including the internal investigators have challenged the Nation Transport Safety Board’s (2000), position concerning what caused the crash of Trans World Airline 800. In a four-year investigation, the NTSB concluded and approved a report indicating that the likely cause of the accident was from flammable fuel vapor explosion generated from the fuel tank of the plane. In addition, short circuit was also considered in the report as some of the possible causes of the accident. However, three theories of the possible causes of a bomb, missile and, mechanical failure are still rife. Most supporters of the terrorist bomb conspiracy theory argue that the NTSB report is just a cover up because proper investigations were not done, therefore, the evidence they presented were not conclusive (Donaldson, 2014).
Background
The Trans World Airline Flight 800, a Boeing 747 -1000 took off from JFK airport in July 17th 1996 with the intention of a stopover in Paris before heading to Rome. A total of 230 passengers were on board. After 11 minutes of takeoff, it was reported that the plane was flying at a high altitude of 13,700 feet. The plane had not climbed at the required time causing delay for the next plane to descend. After receiving clearance to climb the plane explored suddenly. The explosion created a fireball seen by several eye witnesses along the coastline of Long Island. Initial reports indicated that the air traffic control radar had picked up an unusual movement before the explosion indicating the likelihood of a missile hitting the plane. This report was later retracted (Revkin, 2011).
Initial investigation focused on the possibility of terrorist attack. The Central Intelligence Agency analyzed using the sound broadcast theory and concluded that witnesses just saw trails of burning fuel from the aircraft, but could not describe how the missile approached the aircraft. They calculated the time it took the witnesses to hear the sound of the explosion and what the witnesses had observed. Most witnesses were alleged to have not described the missile approaching the plane, therefore, the terrorist theory was dismissed (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011). There were claims that the NTSB and FBI covered up evidence as witnesses were forbidden to testify in public hearing. Violations of protocols was cited and reported with other parallel reports being censored. The NTSB also investigated if fuel and air mixture could have ignited the fire due to malfunction of the fuel tank, after the investigation limited evidence was generated to support this theory. Although the NTSB finally reached to a conclusion, they later admitted that there were possibilities that a missile could have exploded next to the plane, igniting the fire, or th...