Coming Down in Pieces: The Spiritual Care Response to Pan Am 103

Abstract

The bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988 was a major terrorism and mass murder event on par with 9/11 in terms of social and cultural impact. All 259 people onboard and 11 people on the ground were killed. The families and other loved ones of those on board created a new paradigm for victim-led advocacy for better treatment from the United States government and other responding organizations. It was also a turning point in the development of disaster spiritual care as a distinct discipline with its own best practices. Terrorism and other aspects of the story overshadowed the story of the disaster spiritual care response. This paper tells the story of the spiritual care response to Lockerbie, both as a social history and as guidance for disaster spiritual care professionals. It offers four main lessons: Be prepared; be ready for death care; the impact zone is endless; and it will change you.