Fuel explosion blamed for TWA crash

Investigators say there was no bomb and no cover up

US safety investigators have concluded that a disastrous explosion of vapours in a main fuel tank was the most likely cause of the crash of TWA Flight 800 in 1996, which claimed 230 lives.

The accident's cause has long been a mystery. Some suspect that the Jumbo jet, which crashed into the sea off the coast of the eastern United States, was brought down by a bomb or a missile.

However, a senior aviation safety investigator, Dr Bernard Loeb, said investigators believe that sparks from wiring following a power surge probably caused a huge explosion, bringing the jet down.

NCSB chairman Jim Hall (right) attacked the conspiracy theorists

Dr Loeb was speaking at a meeting of the US National Transportation Safety Board, which is holding two days of public hearings on the draft final accident report.

According to Dr Loeb, physical evidence "leads to the inescapable conclusion that the cause of the in-flight break-up of TWA Flight 800 was a fuel-air explosion inside the centre wing tank."

No conspiracy

He went on to discount theories that metal fatigue, a bomb, or even a missile might have brought the airliner down.

"The crash graphically demonstrates that even in one of the safest transportation systems in the world, things can go horribly wrong," added NTSB chairman Jim Hall.

Explosions leave distinctive damage signatures...No such damage was found

Dr Bernard Loeb, investigator

The meetings are intended to allow investigators to present their findings in detail in an attempt to finally lay the cause of the crash to rest.

Some conspiracy theorists contend that the US Government has covered up the real cause of the disaster.

On Tuesday, one group calling itself the TWA Eyewitness Alliance, placed a full-page advertisement in the New York Times restating their claim that the plane was brought down by a missile.

No bomb evidence

Following the crash, some people reported seeing a streak of light shooting towards the jet seconds before the explosion.

Experts say the wreckage shows no signs of bomb damage

However, Dr Loeb discounted this, saying witnesses had probably seen a stream of fuel burning as the plane continued in flight for 30 seconds after the blast.

Dr Loeb added that investigators had found no evidence of the distinctive signs of a missile or a bomb blast from the recovered wreckage.

"High energy explosions leave distinctive damage signatures such as severe pitting and cratering," he said.

"No such damage was found on any portion of the recovered aeroplane structure."

During the meeting, Jim Hall attacked the conspiracy theorists, and called their claims of a cover-up a "grievous injustice".

Safety improvements

Investigators are also due to present recommendations of further safety improvements to Boeing 747s of the same type as Flight 800.

Many modifications have been made to reduce the chances of a similar catastrophe since the crash.

But Dr Loeb said that wiring on some older models of the plane, the design of which is over 30 years old, still gave cause for concern.

The final report is also expected to affect the outcomes of a further 175 outstanding compensation claims Boeing is facing from relatives of the crash victims.