The Bombing of Pan Am 103 – Review | Netflix

THE BOMBING OF PAN AM 103 on Netflix is a 6-part series based on the true story of the Lockerbie tragedy. The case would take so very long to reach its conclusion, so there is plenty of storyline for the six episodes. Read our The Bombing of Pan Am 103 series review here!

THE BOMBING OF PAN AM 103 is a Netflix mini-series with six episodes. Needless to say, but I will point it out still, this is a very heartbreaking story. It’s based on the real 1988 Lockerbie bombing in Scotland, where a 747 exploded and crashed in the small town just days before Christmas.

Episode 1 is very heartbreaking, but overall, the series focuses heavily on the difficulties and frustrations of the investigation. Still, the victims, their loved ones, and the small town are always kept at the center and remembered.

Continue reading our The Bombing of Pan Am 103 series review below. Find it on Netflix now.

A moment that changed the world

The fact that the bombing of Pan Am 103 happened on December 21 surely has a lot to do with its impact. Not that another date would have changed the number of victims, but when it happened just days before Christmas, the impact was somehow different.

Pam Am Flight 103 exploded over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. A small town that also lost residents and suffered huge destruction. It was in 1988, and the small Scottish town would now become the center of the world’s attention.

As always, the press was relentless in wanting to get their scoop. Even in a tragedy that killed 270 people, they were there with their cameras and questions, while so many people were dealing with extreme loss, grief, and trauma.

Too many countries involved

The real problems with the investigation of the bombing would be that so many nations were involved. Pam Am Flight 103 was going from London, England, to New York, USA. The crash was in Lockerbie, Scotland. So, who is in charge?

Well, the British wanted to be in charge initially; the USA wanted to take the lead, as around 200 of the victims were U.S. citizens, and the Scottish had the actual crime scene. As a result, they were all forced to cooperate, which wasn’t always a smooth operation.

Probably rarely, it seems. And, unfortunately for everyone involved, it would take a long time for it to reach its ultimate conclusion.

Ultimately, however, the collaboration between Scottish police and US law enforcement worked a lot better than anything involving the British, who probably had more interest in trying to ensure they wouldn’t be blamed. After all, the flight took off from British soil.

Yes, this is still relevant

I must admit that I am relieved that The Bombing of Pan Am 103 was released during the summer. If this Netflix limited series had been released around Christmas, when the bombing happened, it would have been even more traumatizing to watch.

And yes, you should watch this Netflix series about the Lockerbie tragedy.

The cast is what helps it all run so well. As explained at the very beginning, many real-life people have been morphed into these largely fictitious characters. They are, however, still based on real people. In other words, it’s a lot like Chernobyl. And anything else would have made the storytelling a huge mess.

In the cast, you’ll see Connor Swindells (Barbarians, Sex Education), Patrick J. Adams (Suits), Merritt Wever (Unbelievable), Peter Mullan (Ozark, Baghead), Tony Curran (Calibre), Kevin McKidd (Grey’s Anatomy), and Eddie Marsan (Supacell, Fair Play). To name just a few.

Finally, you will see a lot of real press coverage throughout. I am a huge fan of this, as it would be distracting to try to recreate interviews with Margaret Thatcher. Or to have someone “portray” Tom Brokaw rather than just show the real clip.

Also, it helps you remember that this actually happened in real life.

Watch The Bombing of Pan Am 103 series on Netflix now

The creators of The Bombing of Pan Am 103 are Jonathan Lee (Who Killed Jill Dando?) and Adam Morane-Griffiths (In Darkness). The director of the limited series is Michael Keillor (Roadkill). Finally, the episode writers are Gillian Roger Park (Sneakerhead) and co-creator Jonathan Lee.

While this 2026 limited series on Netflix isn’t the first to focus on the Lockerbie tragedy, it is certainly a very valid addition. I especially liked how it focused so much on the human side of it. As such, we’re always remembering the people who are still living in the direct aftermath of so many lives lost.

At the same time, it is also extremely important to focus on the other element: The investigation and finding those responsible for the crime. This was made more difficult due to the vast crime scene and the many people involved. At times, it was a real mess.

In several ways, The Bombing of Pan Am 103 on Netflix reminded me of the brilliant Chernobyl series from HBO. Or even The Days, which was also on Netflix. If you cared for either of those, then you can expect that this is something you’ll want to watch as well.

The Bombing of Pan Am 103 is on Netflix from July 30, 2026.

Details

Creators: Jonathan Lee, Adam Morane-Griffiths
Director: Michael Keillor
Writers: Gillian Roger Park, Jonathan Lee
Stars: Connor Swindells, Patrick J. Adams, Merritt Wever, Peter Mullan, Tony Curran, Eddie Marsan, Nicholas Gleaves, Kevin McKidd, Douglas Hodge, Lauren Lyle, Andrew Rothney, Phyllis Logan, Cora Bissett, Parker Sawyers, James Harkness, Molly Geddes, Khalid Laith, Amanda Drew