Pan Am Flight 103
This is a tough way to start the blog. When I committed to write about aviation issues for NADA/F, I was aware that there would be weeks like this. Like others close to aviation disasters, I am familiar with years-long grief and frustration. Of course, NADA/F’s work in the areas of safety, security, survivability and support allow positive outcomes, even if it takes time.
But today, the day after convicted terrorist, Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, was released from his life sentence on ‘compassionate grounds,’ I feel sickened and discouraged. Our thoughts are with the friends and family members of the victims of Pan Am 103. Regardless of his health status, he was convicted of murder on 270 counts and his release is a miscarriage of justice. He ended up serving just days for every life he took. Much as been written about this in the last couple of days, so there isn’t much more for me to say than that.
I appreciate CNN’s coverage of this, including the Wolf Blitzer interview and some posts on the AC360 blog. I encourage you to visit the victims of Pan Am 103 website to learn more.
I received word yesterday from Bob Monetti, whose son Rick was on the flight, that the families will be in New York City in September when Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, arrives for the opening session of the U.N General Assembly. He wrote:
We are planning to give him a welcome worthy of the murderer of our loved ones.
