25 years after TWA Flight 800

Twenty-five years ago today, one of the deadliest aircraft disasters in American history shook the world. TWA Flight 800, a 747 jet bound from New York to Paris, exploded off the coast of Long Island, New York, with 230 people onboard. Errol Barnett looks back at how this disaster changed aviation, and so many lives, forever.

Each weekday morning, "CBS This Morning" co-hosts Gayle King, Anthony Mason and Tony Dokoupil deliver two hours of original reporting, breaking news and top-level newsmaker interviews in an engaging and informative format that challenges the norm in network morning news programs.

[trailhopper]

My neighbor lost his wife on that flight. She was a Dectective. She was also a Mother. Very sad.

[memeowshi]

My great uncle and cousin died on this flight, and although I wasn't alive when they passed the effects of the plane crash permeate through my family. Many members of my family avoid flying, and I find myself praying whenever I board a flight.

[zms]

I’ll never forget watching the breaking news on a hot summer evening at my grandma’s house in Detroit, MI, and seeing that burning wreckage floating. The news said there were a bunch of high schoolers from Michigan on that plane on a class trip. I was 16 when this happened and just getting interested in commercial aviation. I’ve been a flight attendant for 20 years now. RIP to all those lost.

[randywatson]

I was 16. It was so surreal seeing this on the news, because there hadn’t been a crash in so long. Found out a couple days later that one of our teachers was on that flight with her daughter.

[patleathers]

I remember this flight, I am 72, I’m so sorry to the family and friends.

[beccabooiseeu]

My father was one of the divers who recovered the bodies, the stories he has told didnt seem to phase him, but to me they actually seemed traumatizing. Its insane how much water can deteriorate someone.

[TSemasFl]

Let the victims families come see it, touch it, have their final moments with it, then scrap it. It's all that can be done now.

[Tis_I_SirJames]

Let the people you care about know that you love them everyday.

It might be the last time you see them.

[TheGodlyGamers]

My grandfather was a TWA pilot for 15 years prior to this, he’s alive thank god but god bless those

[moedean]

I still remember. I will never forget. I love all the victims even though I knew none of them, may they RIP, and their families have peace of mind.

[crispinjulius]

15 when this happened and can still remember seeing the debris floating on the ocean’s surface. What an awful thing it was. God rest those souls.

[vinucini]

Remember reading this when I was a child now I am 40. Times changed years passed but the scar still remains.

[Blondebeast_]

My distant cousins passed away on this flight right after a family reunion when I was just a toddler.

[SlayerofFiction]

Comfort kits for kids.
Now that folks, made this entire thing worth watching.

[davidbennett]

I was the electrician at the coast guard base where the bodies were brought back to and to this day I still remember this very vividly .

[._litre_V]

It's saddening to know that in order for aviation to become safer, most of the time we have to learn the hard way.

[gobrookle]

I was 17 at the time and I remember the burning wreckage on the water. The orange fire against the black water. The news anchors talking about the search for survivors. The debris pieces were so small I knew there would be no survivors.

[SheOfCertainGait]

Every time I drive through Montoursville, PA I think about the teenagers who perished in this crash. My 💔 broke for all the families.

[Francomations]

My friend parent survived the crash, only because they went on a later flight. They were shocked when their original plane crashed. How terrifying my friend almost didn't exist by a last-minute descion

[amymoore]

I was 10 when this happened. I still remember watching this on the news and it still breaks my heart. I remember saying my prayers that night & prayed for the families & being a ignorant child I prayed they would find survivors in the water. Now I continue to pray for the families who are still dealing with the crash every year.