Allow me the opportunity to present the actual facts of the matter re TWA…. Reps from United Airlines participated in the investigation of TWA since they too operated B74’s. Time to scuttle the conspiracy theories. (Is that you Jeff Wise?)

Direct from the actual UA investigator that facilitated our 74 training:
The tail number of TWA 800 was N93119. This aircraft had been leased overseas to a southeastern Asia carrier (Thai airways? Can’t recall) for many years. Many AD’s were issued by Boeing for work during that period - including electrical rewiring of boost pumps in all fuel tanks. Given the humidity of those tropics these required repairs were even more urgent.
Being a 3rd world operator the maintenance logs were pencil whipped. Maintenance inspectors visiting the lessees said that mechanics testified only the obvious requirements were met - all else nada they had neither the skills, parts to do the bigger jobs. They lost the lease and N93119 was returned to the states. TWA took possession and claimed the logbooks which appeared in order.That’s it.

The wires were corroded and that was the result. The spectacular nature of the hull separation really fed the conspiracy nonsense and drove science and engineering from final analysis in some people’s minds. Separately we know now the front end separation was due to the collapse of aluminum claws holding the belly cargo door. A new AD required much higher quality steel claws replace the aluminum. (Worldwide at least 2? 742 hulls had been lost due in the same way - cockpits separating from cabins.)

No - was not missles. Operating out of NYC/JFK at the time pilots knew this much - the area was the capital of investigative journalism for the US- 3 daily national newspapers, 4 or 5 investigative top national news networks - ALL the best reporters and investigative science blanketed the region. If it had been infact, terrorism it would have been claimed. We learned this for certainty on 9/11.

So no - pencil whipping and cheapening out cost lives - the bane of the industry. There is no place for conspiracy theories of the great unknown villain to take lead when science and engineering can tell a better truth. Same thing with Lion Batteries.