Why is an empty fuel tank more dangerous than a full one? In the case of TWA Flight 800, a nearly empty center wing tank holding about 50 gallons of fuel heated by air-conditioning packs created explosive vapors that ignited, likely from a short in fuel-quantity wiring. This video explains the science behind fuel-tank flammability and the FAA's 2008 rule requiring nitrogen inerting to prevent future tragedies.



