Most assumed that at the outset too (including James Kallstrom) because of the initial reports of a fiery streak followed immediately by a huge fireball. However, a U.S. satellite detected that Massive Fireball explosion about a mile above the surface, NOT at 13,800 feet where the Initial Event took place at 8:31:12. In short, the fiery events observed by the witnesses took place much later and much lower in the sky than initially assumed. The timeline and location of the major events of the TWA 800 disaster was approximately as follows:
8:31:11 Intact and climbing 747 approaches 13,800 feet.
8:31:12 Initiating Event at 13,800 feet followed immediately by the commencement of the decapitation process.
8:31:43-8:31:47 Streak of light appears.
8:31:47 Explosion of Massive Fireball at 5500-7500 feet.
8:31:55-8:31:57 Splashdown of the Massive Fireball flames.
Source - The "Missile Witnesses" Myth.
Swordmaker disagrees with that sequential timeline and has posted his own very detailed sequential timeline in FreeRepublic which can be reviewed in its entirety by clicking here. Following are 2 excerpts from it.
20:31:13 - ~13,840 ft. ~1 sec. Missile strikes TWA800 on left side at approximately seat row 16-17 transects the passenger cabin spewing partially burned solid rocket fuel (and leaving a red residue on seats in this area), taking out passengers and seats in rows 17-18 and exits aircraft through right side. VDR ends in loud, strange sound. Bright white Ordnance type explosion occurs just after missile exits thin walled cabin. Blast places massive overpressure on nose of aircraft and opens wide gap in side of aircraft. Parts of missile continue on momentum at speed approaching MACH 2 at a vector 190 degrees from north, ejecta from aircraft including seats, passengers, luggage to eventually land in "crosswind blast debris" field. The blast imparts a slightly more eastward vector for the ejecta which combined with the ejecta's already present eastward momentum results in the ejecta coming to rest about 175 degrees from the point of ejection.
20:31:39:64 - ~7,000 ft. - 27.64 sec. Sixth post IE radar return. - Center Wing Tank explodes from spark caused by MECHANICAL breaking of metal. Volatile air-fuel mix surrounding aircraft ignited into Massive Fireball, Hot fireball begins to RISE, while burning plane falls through bottom of Fireball still spewing liquid fuel which ignites on exit from wingtanks.
That boils down to this:
20:31:13 - ~13,840 ft. Initiating Event - includes bright white Ordnance type explosion. (IE)
20:31:39 - ~7,000 ft. Massive Fireball explosion. (MF)
Note the approximately 26 seconds elapsed time between Initiating Event at 13,840 feet and the Massive Fireball explosion at 7000 feet in Swordmaker's sequential timeline. Yet, New York Air National Guard Major Frederick Meyers, touted as the Star "shootdown" witness by some, clearly indicates in his very detailed report that the elapsed time between the Initiating Event and the Massive Fireball explosion was only 3-4 seconds
Source - The Report of Major Frederick Meyers.
Note that the "bright white ordnance explosion" referred to by Swordmaker was engulfed by the Massive Fireball explosion as further documented in the following sequential graphics prepared by the New York Air National Guard after debriefing Major Meyer and his Jolly 14 helicopter crewmates.
Here's a related posting from an author who hasn't yet further clarified his comments therein or published his own sequential timeline.
Yahoo TWA800 forum - 15 March 2002
From: John Fiorentino
Subject: Re: [twa800] A little sensitive, aren't we?
[excerpt][quote]
However, based on Meyer's statements, I don't believe he witnessed the IE. Fl. 800 didn't explode in a MF at 13000+, the MF was somewhere 7500-8500ft. Look at his timeline, Please explain, HOW he could have witnessed the IE?
[end quote]
Another supposedly Star "shootdown" witness is Dwight Brumley. He clearly indicated during at least one interview that he saw the fiery streak disappear under the airliner he was riding in and the emergence of the Massive Fireball 1-2 seconds later. It should go without saying he could not possibly have seen a missile shoot down Flight 800 at 13,800 feet only 1-2 seconds before he saw the Massive Fireball explosion at about 5500-7500 feet. In fact, he's even quoted during another of his interviews as stating: "I could not positively say that what I saw was a missile. What I saw was a very bright flame of light moving parallel to my aircraft".
Source - Witness Dwight Brumley Interviews.
As earlier noted, Swordmaker's very detailed complete sequential timeline is available for your review and that of other interested readers by clicking here.