On 20 August 2009 , The Scottish government headed by Alex Salmond announced that it would release Abdelbaset al-Megrahi on medical grounds . He was the only person convicted of the terrorist plot which killed 169 Americans and 40 Britons on Pan American Worldways ' Flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie , Scotland on 21 December 1988 . He was sentenced to life in prison in 2001 , but was released after being diagnosed with terminal cancer , with around three months to live . Americans said the decision was uncompassionate and insensitive to the memory of the victims of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing . President Barack Obama said that the decision was " highly objectionable " . U.S. Ambassador Louis Susman said that although the decision made by Scotland to release Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was seen by the United States as extremely regrettable , relations with the United Kingdom would remain fully intact and strong . The British government led by Gordon Brown was not involved in the release and Gordon Brown stated at a press conference that they had played ' no role ' in the decision . Abdelbaset al-Megrahi died 20 May 2012 at the age of 60
Pan American Worldways ' Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103
United Kingdom–United States relations