Warhol created this work after the Air France Flight 007 accident in which 129 ( later 130 after one died of injuries ) people aboard were killed with only 2 survivors . The Atlanta Art Association had sponsored a month-long tour of the art treasures of Europe , and 106 of the passengers were art patrons heading home to Atlanta on this charter flight . The tour group included many of Atlanta 's cultural and civic leaders . Atlanta mayor Ivan Allen Jr. went to Orly to inspect the crash site where so many important Atlantans perished . The work is a memorial to those who died
Air France Flight 007
Air France Flight 007
129 Die in Jet!