I never thought for a second that the US Navy had anything to do with it, other than salvage operations, but the theories etc are out there. I respect our US Military - all branches - very much.
The MANPAD theory is also out there, and while I doubt anyone could see the actual missile from 5+ miles at dusk, perhaps the flame and trail could be seen. The 2 chopper pilots who claimed to have seen it, had experience w/ other projectiles and MANPADS, IIRC.
The used MANPAD tube (which the USN recovered and which later disappeared), PETN inside the plane, plane’s structural hit exam etc etc etc are purely circumstantial, IMO, but added together make a case for a terrorist-fired missile, of some kind. IIRC, MANPADS don’t reach the altitude TWA 800 was at when it exploded. But too many people saw it happen; I think it was 30+ who the FBI interviewed and *sanitized* the field interviews, pics, videos, sketches etc.
I’m not a black helicopter theorist or anything like that, but this whole thing just doesn’t pass the smell test. It stinks. I think the FBI and NTSB picked-up a turd and tried to dust-it-off, but too many people already knew otherwise.
Who knows what recent history we might have avoided, including Clinton's second term and all that's come from it, had they been professional investigators instead of professional politicians and their enabling helpers.
Oh well...at least some contractors got some B747 BS mod work to do and Bill got 4 more years and many, many more interns. Priorities, doncha know.