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TWA800 Lecture at Southampton College
July 30, 2003
Last night I attended a TWA 800 lecture at
Southampton College, part of Long Island University. Speaking
were former FBI lead investigator Robert Knapp and CNN correspondent
Christine Negroni. [author of Fatal Departure] Ms Negroni has
joined the NY aviation law firm, Kriendler and Kriendler as director
of investigations following 9-11. Her firm is involved in a
lawsuit against Iraq for its I sponsorship of terrorist attacks. There
were about ten in the audience, at least 3 of which were former TWA
personnel, as well as the Suffolk County medical examiner.
Mr. Knapp began the lecture with his
recollection of the events leading up to and surrounding TWA 800. He
explained that terrorist activity since the first WTC attack had been
closely watched. Significant suspected terrorist activities had
been under surveillance and at least one serious threat
thwarted while the perpetrators were in the process of mixing their
bomb materials. When 800 went down, and the eye witness accounts
came in, they immediately assumed it was a terrorist attack. He
insists, however, that no evidence supporting such a claim was ever
found. He agreed with the center fuel overheat/explosion theory.
Ms Negroni began by telling us about her
book, which sounds like it is about the passengers and crew more than
what actually happened. We got the distinct feeling that she was
just out to sell books. She supports the fuel tank explosion
theory and massaged the data to help support it. She stated that
there were 23 similar fuel tank explosions. When pressed, she
said that there were actually 26, and that half were military.
Further questioning revealed that any fire or explosion that included
the fuel tanks was included in that number. She mentioned the
Thai airways jet that exploded and burned on the ground one hour
before the prime minister was to have boarded. This again was
attributed to the center fuel tank. She attempts to make us
think that fuel tank explosions were not uncommon. I worked for
TWA for 14 years, and I had never heard of them.
I honestly think that she got emotionally
involved in her investigation and her book was her emotional outlet,
as is her hyping the book now. Nothing contrary to the fuel tank
theory was offered. The TWA captain present asked if she had
spoken with Commander Donaldson. She said no, adding politely that if
people do not believe what the investigators have concluded then they
should continue to question it, but that she is comfortable with the
governments portrayal.
I am sure both speakers honestly believe
what they told us. However they offered nothing that helps
me to believe it. I remain unconvinced.
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