Historical Events tagged with "aviation"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Accidents & Tragedies

Midwest Express Airlines Flight 105 Crash

September 6th, 1985 39 years ago

Midwest Express Airlines Flight 105, a McDonnell Douglas MD-80, crashed shortly after takeoff from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 31 people on board. The flight was scheduled to fly to New Orleans, Louisiana, but tragically lost altitude shortly after takeoff due to a control system failure. The aircraft impacted a field near the airport, marking one of the deadliest aviation incidents in Wisconsin's history.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Bar Harbor Airlines Flight 1808 Crash Overview

August 25th, 1985 39 years ago

Bar Harbor Airlines Flight 1808 tragically crashed near Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport in Maine, killing all eight individuals on board. Among the victims was the notable peace activist and child actress Samantha Smith, who had gained fame for her advocacy for peace during the Cold War period. The aircraft encountered difficulties shortly after takeoff in adverse weather conditions. The loss of such a prominent figure alongside other passengers marked a solemn moment in the community.

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Accidents & Tragedies

British Airtours Flight 28M Engine Fire Incident

August 22nd, 1985 39 years ago

British Airtours Flight 28M suffered an engine fire during takeoff from Manchester Airport, causing the pilots to abort the flight. Unfortunately, the evacuation procedures were inefficient, and tragically, 55 people lost their lives, primarily due to smoke inhalation. This incident highlighted critical issues in emergency response and evacuation protocols in aviation.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Japan Air Lines Flight 123 Tragedy

August 12th, 1985 39 years ago

Japan Air Lines Flight 123 crashed into the Osutaka Ridge in Gunma Prefecture, killing 520 people. The aircraft, a Boeing 747, experienced catastrophic failure due to an earlier repair issue, leading to a loss of control. This disaster marked the deadliest single-aircraft accident in aviation history, deeply affecting air travel regulations and safety protocols.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Delta Air Lines Flight 191 Crashes in Dallas

August 2nd, 1985 39 years ago

A Delta Air Lines Lockheed L-1011 TriStar crashed while landing at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport during a thunderstorm. The aircraft lost control due to wind shear and struck a field before colliding with vehicles on a nearby roadway. The crash resulted in the deaths of all 128 passengers and 9 crew members aboard, as well as the deaths of 9 individuals on the ground, totaling 137 fatalities.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Soviet Aeroflot Tu-154 Crash Kills 200

July 10th, 1985 39 years ago

An Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft crashed near Uchkuduk, Uzbekistan, resulting in the deaths of all 200 individuals on board. The crash occurred during a domestic flight from Tashkent to Samarkand. Investigations later indicated that a stall during the flight led to the tragic accident, marking it as the deadliest in Soviet aviation history. The aircraft ultimately lost altitude and impacted the ground under unclear circumstances.

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Crime & Law

Terrorist Bombings at Narita and Air India Flight

June 23rd, 1985 39 years ago

A terrorist group launched two devastating bomb attacks on June 23, 1985. The first bomb exploded at Narita International Airport near Tokyo, resulting in two fatalities and four injuries. Approximately one hour later, a second bomb detonated aboard Air India Flight 182, leading to the crash of the Boeing 747 into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland, killing all 329 passengers and crew members on board. These coordinated incidents underscored the threat of terrorism in aviation and prompted international security reactions.

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Crime & Law

Braathens SAFE Flight 139 Hijacked Near Oslo

June 21st, 1985 39 years ago

Braathens SAFE Flight 139, a domestic flight in Norway, was hijacked while approaching Oslo Airport, Fornebu. The hijacker, seeking to draw attention to a political issue, took control of the aircraft with a small number of passengers aboard. Norwegian special forces swiftly responded, surrounding the plane and executing a rescue operation. The incident concluded without any fatalities, showcasing the effectiveness of the emergency response teams.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Iberia Flight 610 Crashes on Mount Oiz

February 19th, 1985 40 years ago

A Boeing 727 operating as Iberia Flight 610 crashed into Mount Oiz in Spain, resulting in the loss of 148 lives. The flight was en route to Madrid from Bilbao when it encountered severe weather conditions, leading to the tragic accident. This incident marked the deadliest in Iberia's history and in the Basque Country, highlighting the challenges of aerial navigation in mountainous terrain during adverse weather.

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