It has been 36 years since Alexander Lowenstein boarded Pan Am flight 103, wearing the red jacket in this picture. Before settling into seat 20D next to his Syracuse University classmate Richard Monetti, he likely placed it in the overhead. They were on their way to see their families for the holiday following their semester abroad. When a terrorist bomb caused the plane to explode about 38 minutes after take off, everything on it crashed from 31,000 feet to the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland. Including the 259 people onboard, 35 of whom were Syracuse University students. Including plane wreckage and hundreds of bags. Including Alexander Lowenstein’s favorite red jacket. 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie were killed by this terrible act of hate. Yet among the people who lived in the small town was a group of women who, in the aftermath of the tragedy, were driven to express their compassion and respect for the victims on the plane. So they started collecting the personal items that were scattered across miles of the Scottish countryside. Where they found clothes, they laundered and folded them while attempting to find clues that would help to return the items to their families. Including Alexander Lowenstein’s favorite red jacket. Against all odds, Alex’s jacket was returned to his family. Delivered to their door folded and wrapped in tissue paper. It was cleaned carefully to make sure it wasn’t further damaged, it already had burns on it from the disaster. It was delivered without a note from the women who recovered it, absent a request for recognition and with no way to contact them to express thanks. Alex’s mother Suse still wears the jacket. #panam103 #remembrance #lockerbie
Thank you for posting this, Derek.❤️
Every year I’m moved by these stories and it makes me so proud to a Syracuse alumnus.
This story is deeply moving—a testament to the extraordinary compassion of the women of Lockerbie, who went to such lengths to honor the victims and their families. Their quiet kindness in the face of unspeakable tragedy reminds us of humanity’s resilience even in the darkest times. At the same time, it’s impossible to reflect on this tragedy without confronting its origin: an act of terrorism perpetrated by Libyan terrorists, motivated by extremist ideology. The bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 was a manifestation of jihadist beliefs that have fueled acts of terror for decades. Recent examples include the devastating attacks in Israel on October 7, the massacre in Tarmuwa, Nigeria, where over 100 villagers were killed by Boko Haram, and the assault on multiple sites in Bamako, Mali, resulting in about 100 deaths. These atrocities remind us that compassion, like that shown by the women of Lockerbie, must be matched with vigilance and resolve. We owe it to the victims—past and present—not only to honor their memories but to confront the ideologies and adherents who continue to commit atrocities and justify them in the name of jihad.
My first semester at Syracuse. I’ll never forget that day. And I’ll never forget those 35, even though my first semester on campus was their semester abroad, so I never met one of them. They’re loss was felt so acutely on campus. I’m proud to have been a Remembrance Scholar, and happy their legacies live on at SU.
Appreciate you sharing this. #neverforget 🧡
It’s incredible that something so heartfelt came out of such a heartbreaking event. In four short paragraphs, you captured so much emotion and landed on hope—now that’s good writing.
I didn’t know about the Lockerbie women who collected the personal items and returned them to the families of those killed. It reminds me of the outpouring of help from the people of Gander, Newfoundland after planes were diverted there on 9/11. Why does it take horror/tragedy to remind us of the good and generosity in so many “ordinary” people?
#suproud ❤️
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1dI remember meeting Alex when he came through rush at Zeta Psi, and was like immediately taken by his kind persona and big smile. We had to offer him a pin and what a great choice that was. Always with a positive influence and outlook. He truly was an amazing soul. Will never forget where I was when the news of Pan Am 103 came out. We had a few brothers abroad in London that semester. The news was heartbreaking and so surreal. Thank you for this picture, and thank you Syracuse for continuing to honor the memory of the 35 we lost that day. #WeRemember