Why the 'TWA Flight 800' Documentary Is Wrong

Why the ‘TWA Flight 800’ Documentary Is Wrong

Stephen Pope

Wednesday, July 03, 2013 at 07:42 PM ET

Verified

Screenshot from the documentary "TWA Flight 800"

Key Takeaways:

The article critiques the "TWA Flight 800" documentary, stating it presents no genuinely new evidence despite claiming a missile attack, possibly involving multiple missiles, brought down the plane.
It highlights the documentary's weak presentation of its "smoking gun" radar data, which is barely discussed, while relying heavily on eyewitness accounts of a streaking object.
The author finds a former NTSB investigator's explanations for the absence of missile fragments or direct impact damage to the plane unconvincing and implausible.
Ultimately, the article dismisses the missile theory as requiring belief in an extensive conspiracy and cover-up, advising readers to consult the NTSB's official accident report instead.

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I’ve watched “TWA Flight 800” — the much-hyped Epix original documentary that purports to present “new” evidence proving that a missile attack brought down the Paris-bound Boeing 747 over the Atlantic 17 years ago this month. Yesterday I interviewed Hank Hughes, a former NTSB investigator who was involved in the TWA 800 investigation. Here is why the film and Hughes are wrong.

I’ll try to keep the spoilers to a minimum, but suffice it to say there’s really nothing new in the film — although the filmmakers go to great lengths to make it seem that way. The biggest surprise in the documentary is the claim that not one but as many as three missiles may have downed TWA Flight 800. According to the theory, two missiles rose from the ocean while a third object was seen over Long Island’s Patchogue Bay.