Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) introduced the Justice for the Living Victims of Lockerbie Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure that 50 senior Pan Am pilots—many of whom served as U.S. servicemembers—receive long-overdue compensation for the economic losses they suffered as a direct result of Libya’s state-sponsored terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988.
While families of the victims and other impacted groups have received compensation through the U.S.–Libya Humanitarian Settlement Agreement, these pilots were inexplicably excluded, leaving them without recourse, despite their decades of service and sacrifice.
The bill would allow the aging pilots and their families to access approximately $42 million in remaining Libyan settlement funds that were returned to the Treasury. These funds were originally paid by Libya as part of the 2008 terrorism claims agreement and are not U.S. taxpayer dollars.
“50 American pilots, many of whom proudly served our nation in uniform, lost their pensions, healthcare, and livelihoods when Pan Am collapsed after the Lockerbie attack. Every other victim group has been compensated, and they are the only Americans still left without relief,” said Rep. Young Kim. “Congress has a responsibility to finish the job, honor our commitments, and ensure these families receive justice. The settlement paid out by Libya—not U.S. taxpayer funds—was not meant for the U.S. government, and it is time to right a decades-old wrong.”
“I am proud to join Rep. Young Kim in reintroducing the House version of the Justice for the Living Victims of Lockerbie Act to ensure the 50 pilots and their families receive long-overdue justice and compensation,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. “Because these pilots, including 18 Californians, were not included in prior settlements, it’s up to Congress to get these pilots access to remaining funds from the U.S.-Libya Humanitarian Settlement Agreement.”
“My career in aviation began as a pilot in the Navy, and ended with the collapse of Pan Am,” said Bruce Abbott, California resident and former Pan Am Pilot. “It was a life experience built on a childhood dream, and I could not have found a better forum, except for the tragedy of Lockerbie and its terrible consequences. Pan Am was an extended family and a source of pride for everyone associated with it. With Lockerbie, everything changed.”
Read bill text HERE.
Background
In 2008, Libya paid $1.5 billion to settle claims arising from its state-sponsored acts of terrorism.
All victim groups eligible under the agreement have been fully compensated except the senior pilots, who were uniquely harmed because federal law at the time required commercial pilots to retire at age 60—preventing them from securing new aviation jobs after Pan Am’s bankruptcy. Their average tenure with Pan Am was 23 years.
The Justice for the Living Victims of Lockerbie Act directs the Treasury Department to re-establish a claims fund and authorizes the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission to process and approve claims submitted by the pilots or their estates using the $42,066,338 in remaining Libyan settlement funds.
