Posted on 09/01/2002 7:45:03 PM PDT by JohnFiorentino
TWA Flight800
WHO WAS WILLIAM KABOFOVIC? By: John Fiorentino
During the FBI's investigation into the Flight 800 disaster, investigators questioned the victims families about a man named William Kabofovic. There was no William Kabofovic on the TWA800 passenger list but his name was found on a piece of luggage found in the wreckage.
On October 27, 1996 CNN reported the story of Mr. Kabofovic and the mysterious luggage tag bearing his name.
October 27, 1996 Web posted at: 8:30 p.m. EST NEW YORK (CNN) -- Investigators probing the crash of TWA Flight 800 want to know more about a man named William Kabofovic, whose name was not on the passenger list but did turn up on a piece of luggage in the wreckage.
The FBI has been interviewing family members of the crash victims, asking if they recognize the name.
"I told them I never heard of him," said Richard Penzer, whose sister Judy died in the crash. Questioned by federal agents, Penzer said, "I assumed it had something to do with my sister. They never told me why they were interested in that person."
(excerpts)
Full story: http://www.cnn.com/US/9610/27/twa/
Just what did happen on the ground before Flight 800 departed Kennedy Airport on it's ill fated flight?. The airplane had been delayed for over an hour due to a mixup with a passenger's bag, and some maintenance concerns.
Reproduced below is a partial transcript of communications prior to departure:
Legenda RDO - Radio transmission from accident aircraft CAM - Cockpit Area Microphone sound or source INT - Aircraft flight/ground intercom sound or source -1 - Voice identified as Captain (left seat) -2 - Voice identified as First Officer (right seat) -3 - Voice identified as Second Officer -4 - Voice identified as Instructor Flight Engineer -5 - Voice identified as gate agent personnel -6 - Voice identified as male aircraft ground personnel -? - Voice unidentified TWR - JFK Local Controller (tower) GND - JFK Ground Controller DEP - New York Radar Departure Controller CTR - Boston ARTCC Controller (center) FIC - TWA Flight Information Controller GH - Kennedy Gate Hold Controller LOAD- TWA passenger/freight load Controller ATIS- Kennedy automated terminal information service UNK - Unknown source * - Unintelligible word @ - Nonpertinent word # - Expletive deleted % - Break in continuity () - Questionable text (( ))- Editorial insertion - - Pause Note: All times are expressed in Eastern Daylight Savings time. Only radio transmissions to and from the accident aircraft were transcribed.
time Source: Content: 1959: 40 Start of recording. 1959: 41 CAM-? got it. 1959: 42 CAM-? an agent comin'. 1959: 43 CAM-? yeah right. 1959: 44 CAM-5 passenger's bag pulled, the passenger was on board the whole time. 1959: 49 CAM-5 all right. 1959: 50 CAM-1 is the bags back on? 1959: 52 CAM-5 huh? 1959: 53 CAM-? yes. 1959: 53 CAM-1 yeah he was on the whole time. 1959: 54 CAM-1 okay. 1959: 56 CAM-4 are we reconciled? 1959: 56 CAM-? let's go. 1959: 58 CAM-? push. 1959: 59 CAM (( sound similar to cockpit door closing)). 2000: 01 CAM-1 we won't bother telling them that. 2000: 03 CAM-? nope. 2000: 04 CAM-1 you don't mind, huh? 2000: 11 CAM-3 we'd have a mutiny back there.
According to the FBI, in it's Interim Summary Report of November 18, 1997 Section IV. AIRPORT INVESTIGATION--JFK AIRPORT--TWA 800 in Section B. PASSENGER/BAGGAGE RECONCILIATION: All passenger flight coupons were matched to the passenger manifest. All checked baggage was accounted for prior to departure.
How then do we account for the bag with the luggage tag bearing the name of William Kabofovic? For the past two years, this author has been trying to find out. The answer so far, remains elusive. There are several points of interest concerning Mr. Kabofovic, the most astounding of which is---he doesn't exist!
It seems Mr. Kabofovic, if he is a real person, is a rather reclusive type to say the least. There are no birth records, no marriage or divorce records, no social security records, no death records, no address or phone listings ANYWHERE for a William Kabofovic.
I have personally performed a thorough search in the United States and over 60 foreign countries with negative results. Mr. Kabofovic just cannot be found!
Just what does all of this mean? As of this writing, I can say truthfully, that I just don't know. What I do know is apparently among the wreckage of TWA Flight 800 there was found a "badly mangled" canvas bag with a tag bearing the name William Kabofovic. The name of a man who doesn't exist.
Add yet another riddle to the TWA Flight 800 mystery.
I don't know why but he says its something about it not being anyone's business who's bag it is ... he's one of those real "privacy" type of guys who gets cheesed off when the check-in desk makes him put a tag on his bag.
Maybe someone who felt that same way on Flight 800 put that name on his bag.
Occam's Razor...the simplest explanation is mostly correct
Well, when you do know....give me a call. Until then....whatever.
LOL.......happened to us on our honeymoon but I happened to see them being transported to another plane. Good thing...flights to our destination only flew twice a week.
So ? William Kabofovic sounds like a totally made up name to me. Like something out of Mad Magazine.
WFTR's corollary.... Occam was a bachelor.
WFTR
Bill
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