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The television series “Lockerbie: A Search for Truth” premiered Thursday in the United States and the United Kingdom. The show follows the story of a father in the aftermath of his daughter’s death in the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 terrorist bombing.

The show is adapted from the book “The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father’s Search for Justice,” written by Dr. Jim Swire in his late daughter’s memory, the BBC reported. In the series, Swire, played by Colin Firth, seeks information for the families of people who died in the tragedy and challenges the ensuing investigation’s findings.

Swire believed that Libyan intelligence officer Abdelbaset al-Megrahi – found guilty of 290 counts of murder for the bombing – was wrongfully charged, according to TIME. He claimed the Iranian government was responsible for the tragedy.

With 35 Syracuse University students on board, the Pan Am flight crashed into the town of Lockerbie, Scotland on Dec. 21, 1988 after the bombing. Swire’s daughter Flora, traveling to visit her boyfriend in the U.S. for Christmas, was one of 259 passengers on the plane who died along with 11 Lockerbie residents on the ground.

To honor the 35 SU students, the university chooses 35 seniors to represent victims as part of its Remembrance Scholars program. The senior scholars, along with the rest of the university community, observe Remembrance Week each fall.

A second show about the terrorist bombing is expected to air on Netflix later this year, syracuse.com reported. Titled “Lockerbie,” the show is set to feature actor Patrick J. Adams in a six-part series about the attack.

Published on January 3, 2025 at 8:41 pm

Contact Henry: hdaley@syr.edu