It was this purchase that led to the invention of the material Starlite . This invention was inspired by the Manchester plane fire in 1985 , during which 55 people aboard the plane died in 40 seconds due to toxic smoke inhalation . He invented the material after ICI requested a material for Citroën bonnets . The material that Ward extruded was a failure , and it was granulated and forgotten about , until the aforementioned air crash , at which point Ward became inspired . " It interested me because it was an air disaster on the ground , and because it was the smoke and toxicity that killed people , not the fire . Fifty-five people died in 40 seconds . We thought we 'd like to find something that does n't burn very much , that would be useful . " , Ward mentioned in an interview
Manchester plane fire
British Airtours Flight 28M
Maurice Ward