Almost 24 years after Pan Am Flight 103 went down over Lockerbie, Scotland killing 270 people, including 40 Central New Yorkers the man convicted for the bombing dies. The son of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi confirmed that his father has passed away this weekend. But as YNN's Erin Clarke tells us this day is bittersweet for many.
UNITED STATES -- For those who lost loved ones when Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed, the news that the man convicted of the terrorist plot has died brings little comfort.
"Him dying is just another page in the many chapters of this tragedy," said Bob Hunt.
Bob Hunt's daughter Karen Lee Hunt was one of 35 Syracuse University students on the flight returning home from studying abroad. Each year S.U. marks the tragedy with events and a ceremony at the Remembrance wall.But remembering Pan Am Flight 103 will not end here. That infamous day in history will forever be a part of Syracuse University as will family members of the victims.
"This is a day that we are thinking of the families and the friends who lost loved ones nearly 25 years ago," said Pan Am 103 25th Anniversary Commemoration Committee Chair, Kelly Rodoski.
People who Senator Chuck Schumer says were robbed of time and then made to feel pain the once more when Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was released from his life sentence in prison after eight years on the humanitarian grounds that he was dying of cancer and had just three months to live.
"It is a grave injustice that this evil terrorist who caused so much heart ache and havoc died in freedom instead of behind bars where he belonged," said Schumer.
Schumer pledges to get answers for the victims families by bringing everyone involved in the terrorist act to justice. He plans to speak with officials at the justice department, state department and White House this week.