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Fact check

Is it true: TWA Flight 800?

Debunked93% confidence

No — this has been debunked.

The NTSB Aviation Accident Report AAR-00/03 (2000) is one of the most thoroughly documented accident investigations in history: 600+ pages, 30,000+ pieces of recovered wreckage, 3D reconstruction of the fuselage. Cause: ignition source (likely short-circuit in fuel gauge wiring) in near-empty center wing tank containing flammable vapor. Boeing issued Service Bulletins; FAA mandated inerting systems on US aircraft. No evidence of missile impact on recovered debris; FBI closed its parallel investigation reaching the same conclusion.

The claim

TWA Flight 800 (Boeing 747) exploded and crashed off Long Island on July 17, 1996, killing all 230 aboard. The NTSB ruled the cause was an ignition of flammable fuel-air vapor in the center wing fuel

Key evidence

Eyewitness reports of "streaks of light"

NTSB 4-year investigation: center-wing-tank explosion

Read the full evidence file

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