Here’s which characters in The Bombing of Pan Am 103 on Netflix are based on real people

The series The Bombing of Pan Am 103 has come to Netflix. The show is based on the true story of a plane that exploded above Lockerbie in 1988. In the series, some of the cast are portraying real people, and some are playing characters invented for the TV show. It’s not always clear which is which. So, here’s a helpful rundown of who in The Bombing of Pan Am 103 are real people, and who are made-up characters.

Sandy Gay

The 1980s haircut is authentically bad, though
(Image via Netflix)

He’s fictitious. The writers of The Bombing of Pan Am 103 read up on the Scottish Strathclyde police officers who worked on the case, and used this research as basis for the character Sandy.

Dick Marquise

That one
(Image via Netflix)

Yes, the FBI’s task force for the bombings was led by an agent called Dick Marquise.

Ed McCusker

That’s the Scottish police officer who is played by the Sex Education star Connor Swindells. Ed McCusker is a real person, and Connor spoke to him for advice.

He told Tudum: “He had me around to lunch at his house. He was so generous with trying to recount as much as possible the events that occurred, lifting me up with as much support as he could.”

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It’s not a cheerful show
(Image via Netflix)

However, the real Ed McCusker didn’t do everything that the character in the show did. The writers actually combined Ed’s story with events experienced by many other police officers, including one called Alex Smith.

The producer Julia Stannard told the BBC: “Alex Smith, whose father lived in Sherwood Crescent was one of the first of the Pollice Officers on the scene on the night of the crash. Alex also knew the Flannigan family, and of course Steven. Steven and his brother lost their parents and sister in the destruction of their family home on Sherwood Crescent.

“Although we tell elements of Alex’s story, we don’t depict him as a character in the programme and instead, our character of Ed incorporates his actions.”

Kathryn Turman

Yes, she’s an actual person
(Image via Netflix)

She really was an assistant to the senator John Heinz, and she did advocate for the victims families. Merrit Wever – the actor who portrays her in the show – didn’t meet her, and delved through old interviews instead.

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Featured image via Netflix.