In 1988, 120 miles off the coast of Scotland, the Piper Alpha oil rig exploded. It was one of the largest oil rigs in the world, and 167 men lost their lives. Make it Out Alive: Oil Rig Explosion tells the tragic story, tonight at 10 PM. | Smithsonian Channel

July 6, 1988 – Piper Alpha Disaster 🔥 An explosion tore through the Piper Alpha oil platform in the North Sea, killing 167 workers. It remains the deadliest offshore oil disaster in history. A gas leak, missed handover, and critical safety failures led to a chain reaction of explosions and fire. Only 61 survived. This tragedy reshaped offshore safety standards worldwide. We remember the lives lost—and the lessons learned. 🕯️ #PiperAlpha #OffshoreSafety #oilfieldhistory | OilRegistry

The Piper Alpha Oil Rig, one of the biggest in the world, exploded #onthisday in 1988. The crew tells the story of the harrowing disaster on Make It Out Alive: https://bitly.com/37WpbvU | Smithsonian Channel Aviation Nation