12 Shows Like The Bombing of Pan Am 103 You Must See

‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103’ follows the aftermath of the 1988 Lockerbie disaster, when a bomb attack destroys Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland, claiming 270 lives. While the tragedy devastates families and the town of Lockerbie, DS Ed McCusker (Connor Swindells), FBI Special Agent Dick Marquise (Patrick J. Adams), and others join the joint British-American investigation. Spanning decades, the series traces the painstaking search for evidence across multiple countries, the relentless pursuit of those responsible, and the legal battle that culminates in a landmark trial, while highlighting the lasting impact of the attack on the victims’ families and the wider community.

While the investigation raises more questions than it answers, every clue becomes important, pushing the investigators to their limits. Created by Jonathan Lee, the British drama series is a haunting dramatization of real events. If the themes, characters, storyline, and grittiness of the narrative appealed to you, these shows, similar to ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103,’ explore tragedies, hunts for answers, conflicting motivations, and more.

12. Zero Day (2025)

‘Zero Day’ begins after a catastrophic cyberattack claims thousands of lives and throws the US into crisis. Former President George Mullen (Robert De Niro) returns to public service when President Evelyn Mitchell (Angela Bassett) appoints him to lead a powerful commission investigating the attack. Armed with sweeping authority, George and his team pursue an increasingly complex case that exposes hidden conspiracies and political secrets. At the same time, he battles his own psychological struggles while racing to uncover the truth before the country faces another devastating threat.

The thriller-drama series from the creative team of Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim, and Michael S. Schmidt is a commentary on modern politics and technology. ‘Zero Day’ and ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103’ center on high-stakes investigations that unfold across multiple agencies. Both shows combine political intrigue, relentless detective work, and national security concerns as investigators race to identify those responsible for devastating attacks with greater consequences.

11. The Railway Men (2023)

Crafted by Shiv Rawail, ‘The Railway Men’ or ‘The Railway Men: The Untold Story of Bhopal 1984’ is an Indian thriller drama series that dramatizes the catastrophic gas leak at the Union Carbide India Limited chemical plant in Bhopal in 1984. As the disaster unfolds and panic spreads, station master Iftekaar Siddiqui (Kay Kay Menon) and Central Railways GM Rati Pandey (R. Madhavan) lead a group of ordinary railway workers in a desperate mission to rescue those caught in the unfolding tragedy.

Facing overwhelming danger and mounting casualties, they risk their own lives while pushing themselves beyond their capacities to save as many people as possible. Although they depict different tragedies, ‘The Railway Men’ and ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103’ explore the human cost of massive tragedies. The stories highlight ordinary people displaying extraordinary courage while capturing the chaos, loss, and relentless efforts to respond to catastrophic events that change countless lives forever.

10. The Long Shadow (2023)

‘The Long Shadow’ chronicles the five-year investigation into the murders committed by serial killer Peter Sutcliffe between 1975 and 1980. While fear grips Yorkshire and Manchester, detectives, including DCS Dennis Hoban (Toby Jones), launch one of Britain’s largest murder investigations, involving more than a thousand officers. Alongside the police pursuit, the series gives equal importance to the lives of the victims, their families, and survivors, revealing how investigative failures and missed opportunities prolong the search and leave lasting scars on countless lives.

Directed by Lewis Arnold, the British crime drama series is based on Michael Bilton’s book ‘Wicked Beyond Belief: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper.’ Akin to ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103,’ the narrative follows an exhaustive investigation that stretches law enforcement to its limits, intertwining the experiences of investigators, victims’ families, and affected communities, revealing how certain cases leave a lasting impact on society.

9. Chernobyl (2019)

A Craig Mazin creation, ‘Chernobyl’ sheds light on the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear leak that threatens the Soviet Union and neighboring regions. Whilst the crisis unfolds, Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), Boris Shcherbina (Stellan Skarsgård), and others confront the devastating consequences of the explosion. The radiation continues to spread, and officials at the highest levels attempt to suppress the truth, leaving those on the ground to contain the catastrophe and protect countless lives.

At the same time, others fight to uncover what truly happened inside the nuclear plant before the disaster spirals even further out of control. Much like ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103,’ the drama series reconstructs a devastating real-life tragedy through multiple perspectives, combining large-scale investigations, institutional failures, and acts of courage to reveal the cost of catastrophe and the search for truth and accountability.

8. Hijack (2023-)

George Kay and Jim Field Smith are the creators of ‘Hijack,’ a British thriller series which unfolds in real time aboard a flight from Dubai to London after armed hijackers seize control of the aircraft. Business negotiator Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) quickly realizes the danger and relies on his negotiation skills to protect the passengers as he searches for a way to outsmart the hijackers. The tense seven-hour ordeal continues, and authorities on the ground race to uncover the truth and coordinate a response.

With every decision carrying life-or-death consequences, Sam’s risky strategy pushes him to his limits as the crisis intensifies. Although one is fictional and the other is rooted in history, ‘Hijack’ and ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103’ both center on aircraft-related crises that trigger high-stakes responses. The narratives balance escalating tension with coordinated efforts on the ground, as multiple agencies work urgently to bring a complex situation under control.

7. The Investigation (2020)

Helmed by Tobias Lindholm, ‘The Investigation’ or ‘Efterforskningen’ dramatizes the real-life inquiry into the murder of Swedish journalist Kim Wall. Head of Copenhagen Police Homicide Jens Møller (Søren Malling) leads the painstaking investigation, working alongside prosecutors, forensic experts, divers, marine scientists, volunteers, and Kim’s parents to uncover the truth. The search for evidence grows increasingly complex, which forces people to develop meticulous teamwork to build a case and strive relentlessly to secure a conviction against the killer.

The Danish crime drama series captures the essence of ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103’ through its meticulous portrayal of a real-life investigation driven by patience, collaboration, and precision. Both series emphasize the painstaking process of uncovering the truth while highlighting the emotional weight carried by investigators and those seeking justice.

6. Manhunt: Unabomber (2017)

‘Manhunt: Unabomber’ is the first season of ‘Manhunt’, an anthology crime drama series shaped by the creative vision of Andrew Sodroski, Jim Clemente, and Tony Gittelson. It depicts the FBI’s long pursuit of the elusive domestic terrorist known only as the Unabomber. FBI profiler James R. Fitzgerald (Sam Worthington) joins the task force and champions the use of forensic linguistics to identify the suspect. As bureaucratic resistance and skepticism threaten to derail the investigation, Fitz continues refining his unconventional methods, believing they hold the key to solving one of America’s longest-running bombing cases and bringing the bomber to justice at any cost.

Just as ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103’ chronicles a painstaking hunt for those behind a devastating terrorist attack, ‘Manhunt: Unabomber’ centers on an equally determined investigation driven by innovation and persistence. The shows highlight the evolving methods of law enforcement as investigators overcome institutional challenges to deliver justice.

5. The Looming Tower (2018)

‘The Looming Tower’ follows the growing dangers of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda during the late 1990s, while also tracing the motives of the group and the man. It centers on the FBI’s I-49 Squad and the CIA’s Alec Station as both counterterrorism units race across the globe to prevent an attack on America and its sovereignty. However, institutional rivalry and the unwillingness to share critical intelligence repeatedly undermine their mission, allowing the terrorist threat to escalate toward the devastating events of 9/11 and its devastating aftermath.

The drama series is based on the eponymous book by Lawrence Wright, who co-created the show with Dan Futterman and Alex Gibney. ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103’ and ‘The Looming Tower’ examine an act of terrorism through the lens of an extensive investigation, exploring the challenges of cooperation and institutional shortcomings, revealing how pivotal decisions shape the course of history.

4. The Salisbury Poisonings (2020)

With Saul Dibb behind the lens, ‘The Salisbury Poisonings’ sheds light on the real-life Novichok poisoning incident that occurred in Salisbury in 2018. When Sergei Skripal (Wayne Swann) and Yulia Skripal (Jill Winternitz) are found unconscious on a park bench, emergency responders and medical professionals struggle to identify the cause. The crisis soon escalates when investigators discover that the pair has been exposed to a deadly nerve agent, placing the wider community at risk.

The authorities race to contain the threat, which leads to a complex investigation and an unfolding national emergency. Along the lines of ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103,’ the British drama series examines the aftermath of a shocking real-life attack through the eyes of investigators and responders. The shows blend meticulous investigative work with the urgent efforts to protect the public, revealing how extraordinary crises demand coordination across agencies.

3. The Hijacking of Flight 601 (2024)

‘The Hijacking of Flight 601’ or ‘Secuestro del vuelo 601’ centers on the events within a commercial Aerobolívar flight after two hijackers seize control of the aircraft and threaten the passengers while demanding the release of political prisoners and a massive ransom. Officials on the ground struggle to resolve the crisis, and flight attendant Edilma Pérez (Mónica Lopera) and her colleague Barbara (Angela Cano) fight to keep the situation from spiraling further. Amid mounting tension and uncertainty, the series explores the courage and resilience of those trapped inside the aircraft.

Shaped by the creative vision of Pablo González and C. S. Prince, the Colombian thriller drama series is based on true events and the book ‘Los condenados del aire’ by Massimo Di Ricco. Although they unfold decades apart, ‘The Hijacking of Flight 601’ and ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103’ focus on aviation crises rooted in real events. The two shows combine escalating tension and coordinated responses on the ground, highlighting the resilience of those caught in the crisis and the complex efforts to resolve it.

2. IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack (2024)

Created by Anubhav Sinha and Trishant Srivastava, Netflix’s ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ is inspired by real events and based on the book ‘Flight Into Fear: The Captain’s Story’ by Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury. The Indian thriller drama series follows a passenger flight from Kathmandu to Delhi after terrorists hijack the aircraft and force Captain Sharan Dev (Vijay Varma) to alter its course. As the passengers’ lives hang in the balance, Indian authorities race to understand the hijackers’ demands and negotiate a resolution.

With time, fuel, and options rapidly running out, officials confront impossible decisions while anxious families await news of their loved ones. Rooted in real-life aviation tragedies, ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ and ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103′ depict the immense challenges faced by authorities during high-level crises, intertwining tense negotiations, coordinated government responses, and the emotional ordeal of passengers’ families as events unfold under intense public scrutiny.

1. Lockerbie: A Search for Truth (2025)

‘Lockerbie: A Search for Truth’ begins after Pan Am Flight 103 is destroyed by a bomb over Lockerbie in 1988, killing everyone on board and several people on the ground, including Dr. Jim Swire’s (Colin Firth) daughter, Flora. Refusing to let the tragedy be forgotten, Jim becomes the leading voice for the victims’ families and dedicates years to uncovering the truth. As the investigation progresses and a conviction is secured thirteen years later, new doubts emerge, forcing Jim to question whether justice has truly been served, pushing his relentless search for answers even further.

David Harrower and Oskar Slingerland are the creative duo behind this British drama series, which is based on the book ‘The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father’s Search for Justice’ by Jim Swire and Peter Biddulph. Unlike ‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103,’ which centers on the multinational investigation, ‘Lockerbie: A Search for Truth’ approaches the same tragedy through the eyes of a grieving father. While the approaches of the shows vary, their main focus is on finding the truth and delivering justice to the victims.