Historical Events tagged with "jfk airport"

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

Swissair Flight 111 crashes near Peggy's Cove

September 2nd, 1998 26 years ago

Swissair Flight 111, operated by a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia. En route from New York City to Geneva, Switzerland, the flight began experiencing a fire in the cockpit due to insulation material igniting from electrical arcing. Despite efforts to divert to Halifax International Airport, the aircraft lost control and crashed into the ocean, resulting in the death of all 229 passengers and crew on board.

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Accidents & Tragedies

TWA Flight 800 Explodes Off Long Island Coast

July 17th, 1996 28 years ago

A Paris-bound TWA Boeing 747 tragically exploded off the coast of Long Island, New York, shortly after takeoff from JFK Airport. The explosion occurred at approximately 8:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time, killing all 230 passengers and crew aboard the flight. Witnesses reported seeing a flash of light in the sky before the aircraft plunged into the Atlantic Ocean. The incident was a devastating loss for many families, and it led to a lengthy investigation into the cause of the explosion, which included considerations of a possible fuel tank ignition and potential criminal activity.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Avianca Flight 052 crash in New York

January 25th, 1990 35 years ago

Avianca Flight 052, a Boeing 707, crashed in Cove Neck, New York, while attempting to land at JFK Airport. The flight was carrying 158 passengers and crew from Colombia when it ran out of fuel due to a series of miscommunications and weather conditions. The aircraft crashed into a residential area, resulting in 73 fatalities and 85 survivors. This incident marked one of the deadliest aviation events in the area.

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Crime & Law

Massive Lufthansa Heist in New York City

December 11th, 1978 46 years ago

A group led by Jimmy Burke executed a heist at the Lufthansa cargo building in New York's JFK Airport, stealing approximately $5 million in cash and nearly $875,000 in jewelry, making it the largest cash robbery at the time. The operation was meticulously planned, involving inside information about the cargo scheduled for shipment and the precise timing of the theft. The robbery was executed without any shots fired and involved multiple accomplices who helped carry out the escape plan.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Trans International Airlines Flight 863 Crash

September 8th, 1970 54 years ago

Trans International Airlines Flight 863 crashed during takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, resulting in the deaths of all 11 individuals on board. The aircraft, a Douglas DC-8, encountered difficulties shortly after becoming airborne, leading to the catastrophic incident. Investigations would later reveal several technical issues and human factors that contributed to the crash, raising questions about flight safety protocols at that time.

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