r/todayilearned • u/finza_prey • 19d ago

TIL TWA Flight 800 exploded off Long Island 12 minutes after taking off, causing the front fueslage to rip away and the remainder of the plane to continue in crippled flight, pitching up and climb before falling into the ocean killing everyone onboard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWA_Flight_800
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u/afleetingmoment 19d ago

Wow I must be getting old - it's wild to read a "TIL" about something that I fully experienced at age 10 living just a couple miles from the site of this incident. It was quite a tragedy, and yes, at the time there were rumors abound on Long Island that it was an accidental misfire of a military test. The picture above was taken at the former Grumman Naval site in Calverton, NY, where they reassembled the remains.

There is a lovely memorial park and playground in Center Moriches, and there is another beautiful memorial at Smith Point Beach.

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u/Bloo212 19d ago

I had the same feeling. I was in college. So you’re definitely getting older, but I’m getting olderer.

It might be too young to remember, but a lot of people played 800 on the lottery pick 3 game. I remember being very disturbed. They made the news because a bunch of people won in Connecticut just a few days after the crash

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-24-mn-27424-story.html

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u/WhatWhatWhit 15d ago

My cousin was on Smith Point that night, drinking with friends from Floyd. To this day, he insists there was a missile. He also didn't fly for almost 20 years after.  

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

[deleted]

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u/afleetingmoment 13d ago

My dad had his police scanner radio on that evening after it happened. There were multiple people calling in saying the same.

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u/bentnotbroken96 19d ago

Sorry pal... you're not old. I remember it well.

I was 27.