The first episode of The Bombing of Pan Am 103 begins with scenes of passengers preparing to board Pan Am Flight 103 at Frankfurt Airport on December 21, 1988. The atmosphere is festive and hopeful as many travelers are heading home for Christmas. The camera briefly shows various passengers and their luggage being checked in, emphasizing the normalcy and routine of air travel. The unaccompanied baggage, including a seemingly ordinary Samsonite suitcase, is loaded onto the plane's cargo hold.

The flight departs Frankfurt and makes a scheduled stop at London Heathrow Terminal 3, where additional passengers board. The crew prepares the aircraft for the transatlantic leg to New York and then Detroit. The episode highlights the meticulous loading of luggage, including the unaccompanied bag that will later be identified as containing the bomb. The plane ascends to cruising altitude of 31,000 feet, and the flight proceeds smoothly over the Atlantic.

Shortly after 7:00 p.m. local time, an explosion occurs in the cargo hold beneath the passenger cabin. The blast creates a 20-inch hole in the left side of the fuselage, causing rapid decompression. The nose section of the aircraft is violently torn away, and the fuselage breaks into multiple large pieces. The wing section, still partially intact, crashes into a residential area at 13 Sherwood Crescent in Lockerbie, Scotland, at approximately 500 miles per hour. The impact causes fires and kills residents inside the house and neighboring homes.

The next morning, investigators arrive at the crash site, which spans nearly 800 square miles. They begin the painstaking process of collecting millions of pieces of wreckage scattered across the area. Among the debris, they find fragments of the suitcase believed to have contained the bomb, along with charred clothing items. These pieces become crucial evidence in the investigation.

The investigation team, led by British and American officials, traces the clothing to a merchant in Malta. This connection leads them to a customer who purchased the items, eventually pointing suspicion toward Abdelbaset al-Megrahi and Lamin Khalifah Fhimah. The episode ends with the investigators piecing together the evidence and preparing to pursue charges against the suspects.

Throughout the episode, the narrative intersperses scenes of the investigators' efforts with brief glimpses of the victims' families, capturing their shock and grief. The emotional weight of the tragedy is underscored by the focus on the luggage and personal belongings, symbolizing the lives abruptly ended by the bombing. The episode closes on the somber note of the ongoing search for truth and justice.

The first episode of The Bombing of Pan Am 103 (2025) ends with the initial stages of the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing unfolding, focusing on the shock and confusion immediately after the disaster, and the beginning of the efforts by British and American authorities to piece together what happened. Key investigators and officials are introduced as they start gathering evidence and testimonies, setting the stage for the complex investigation ahead.

In a detailed, scene-by-scene narrative of the ending of Episode 1:

The episode closes after the catastrophic explosion of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The scene shifts to the immediate aftermath on the ground, where emergency responders and local residents are overwhelmed by the scale of devastation. The camera lingers on scattered debris and personal belongings, emphasizing the human tragedy.

Next, the focus moves to the investigative teams. DS Ed McCusker and DCS John Orr, among others, are shown arriving at the crash site, beginning the painstaking process of collecting evidence. They are methodical, aware of the enormity of their task. The investigators discuss the challenges posed by the widespread debris field and the need to secure the area.

Simultaneously, American FBI Special Agent Dick Marquise is introduced, coordinating with British officials. The cooperation between the two nations is portrayed as cautious but necessary, highlighting the international dimension of the investigation.

The episode also briefly touches on the personal impact of the tragedy. Scenes depict families of victims receiving news, grappling with shock and grief. The narrative does not dwell on individual passengers but conveys the collective sorrow.

The final moments of the episode show the investigators beginning to piece together clues, including the discovery of fragments of a suitcase believed to have contained the bomb. This sets up the central mystery and conflict of the series: uncovering who was responsible for the bombing.

Regarding the fate of main characters at this point:

• DS Ed McCusker and DCS John Orr remain deeply involved in the investigation, committed to uncovering the truth.
• FBI Agent Dick Marquise continues his role as the American liaison, working alongside British authorities.
• The families of victims are portrayed in the early stages of mourning, with their long journey toward justice just beginning.

The episode ends on a somber, unresolved note, emphasizing the enormity of the tragedy and the complexity of the investigation ahead, without providing closure but rather opening the door to the unfolding story of pursuit for truth and accountability.

For the TV miniseries "The Bombing of Pan Am 103," season 1, episode 1 (produced in 2025), there is no publicly available information or official sources indicating the presence of a post-credit scene. The detailed episode guides, reviews, and official descriptions do not mention any post-credit scenes or additional footage after the episode ends.

Therefore, it is safe to conclude that episode 1 does not include a post-credit scene.

DS Ed McCusker, portrayed by Connor Swindells, is a young Scottish police officer who works alongside DCS John Orr and other officers to manage the chaotic aftermath of the Pan Am 103 bombing, helping to gather evidence and hold the investigation together on the ground in Scotland.

In Episode 1, the investigation begins with the grim task of determining whether the crash was an accident or a deliberate act. DCS John Orr solemnly declares it 'an act of war' and leads the team in searching for evidence to confirm if a bomb caused the explosion on Pan Am Flight 103.

The first episode introduces several key investigators including DCS John Orr (Peter Mullan), DS Ed McCusker (Connor Swindells), and FBI Special Agent Dick Marquise (Patrick J. Adams), who represent the Scottish police and American authorities collaborating on the case.

Episode 1 shows the devastating physical aftermath of the Boeing 747 breaking up over Lockerbie, with debris scattered over an 850-square mile area, and portrays the emotional toll on the local community and families as they confront the tragedy and search for their loved ones.

The investigation scenes in Episode 1 primarily take place in Scotland, focusing on the crash site near Lockerbie, where the Scottish police conduct their initial search and evidence gathering. The series also sets the stage for the broader international investigation involving the US and Malta, which unfolds in later episodes.

The TV miniseries The Bombing of Pan Am 103 (2025), season 1 episode 1, is not family friendly and is likely unsuitable for children or sensitive viewers due to its serious and intense subject matter. It deals with the real-life 1988 terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which resulted in the deaths of 270 people.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects include:

• Depictions of a major air disaster with scenes involving crash aftermath and rescue efforts, which can be graphic or emotionally distressing.
• Violence and gore related to the bombing and its consequences.
• Intense and frightening scenes reflecting the trauma experienced by victims, families, and investigators.
• Emotional weight and themes of loss, grief, and terrorism, which may be disturbing for sensitive viewers.
• The series treats the tragedy with care and respect but does not shy away from the harsh realities of the event and its investigation.

There is no indication of sexual content or drug use, but the focus on terrorism, death, and investigation makes it a mature drama best suited for adult audiences or older teens with appropriate guidance.