1839day.year
The Night of the Big Wind, the most damaging storm in 300 years, sweeps across Ireland, damaging or destroying more than 20% of the houses in Dublin.
On January 6, 1839, the Night of the Big Wind unleashed hurricane-force gales across Ireland, leveling thousands of homes and leaving a trail of destruction unseen in centuries.
The Night of the Big Wind struck Ireland on January 6, 1839, with hurricane-strength gusts that ravaged towns and countryside alike.
Blowing with ferocity unseen for 300 years, the storm destroyed roofs, uprooted trees, and shattered windows across the island.
In Dublin alone, over 20% of houses were damaged or leveled, leaving thousands homeless amid freezing winter conditions.
Coastal regions bore the brunt of the tempest, with waves breaching sea walls and flooding low-lying areas.
The disaster prompted a national outpouring of relief efforts, leading to the establishment of early warning and insurance schemes.
For decades, the event was commemorated in folklore as one of Ireland's most fearsome natural catastrophes.
1839
Night of the Big Wind
Dublin
1960day.year
National Airlines Flight 2511 is destroyed in mid-air by a bomb, while en route from New York City to Miami.
National Airlines Flight 2511 was destroyed by a bomb mid-flight, killing all 34 passengers and crew.
On January 6, 1960, National Airlines Flight 2511 departed New York City en route to Miami. Mid-air, a bomb exploded in the aircraft's cabin, causing it to break apart over North Carolina. All 34 people on board perished instantly. Investigators recovered fragments of the device but never conclusively identified the perpetrator. The tragedy led to enhanced aviation security protocols and remains one of the most infamous unsolved crimes in U.S. airline history.
1960
National Airlines Flight 2511
Miami
1968day.year
Aeroflot Flight 1668 crashes near Olyokminsk, killing 45.
Aeroflot Flight 1668 crashed near Olyokminsk in Siberia, killing all 45 passengers and crew.
Aeroflot Flight 1668 departed Yakutsk on January 6, 1968, bound for Leningrad with planned stops along the route. Shortly before landing at Olyokminsk, the aircraft suddenly lost altitude and plunged into a remote wooded area. All 45 people on board were killed on impact. Harsh weather conditions and scarce local infrastructure hampered rescue efforts and the crash investigation. Soviet authorities cited pilot error aggravated by mechanical failure, though details were not publicly disclosed. The accident prompted Aeroflot to review safety procedures for long-haul flights in extreme climates.
1968
Aeroflot Flight 1668
Olyokminsk
1969day.year
Allegheny Airlines Flight 737 crashes in Lafayette Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania, United States, killing 11.
Allegheny Airlines Flight 737 crashed in rural Pennsylvania during approach, resulting in 11 fatalities.
On January 6, 1969, Allegheny Airlines Flight 737 was on final approach to Bradford Regional Airport in Pennsylvania when it encountered severe icing conditions. The aircraft lost control and descended into a wooded area in Lafayette Township, McKean County. Of the 27 people on board, 11 passengers were killed and the remainder sustained injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that ice accumulation on the wings and inadequate deicing procedures were primary causes. The crash led to more stringent regulations governing flight operations in icing conditions.
1969
Allegheny Airlines Flight 737
Lafayette Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania
1974day.year
Aeroflot Flight H-75 crashes near Mukachevo, killing 24.
Aeroflot Flight H-75 crashed near Mukachevo, resulting in the loss of all 24 on board.
On January 6, 1974, Aeroflot Flight H-75 encountered severe weather conditions over the Soviet Union near Mukachevo. The aircraft lost control and plunged into a forested area, killing all 24 passengers and crew. Official Soviet reports cited structural fatigue and turbulence as contributing factors, though detailed findings were limited. The crash highlighted the challenges of flight safety in adverse weather and prompted improvements in pilot training and aircraft maintenance protocols. It remains one of the notable accidents in Aeroflot’s history.
Aeroflot Flight H-75
Mukachevo
1993day.year
Four people are killed when Lufthansa CityLine Flight 5634 crashes on approach to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Roissy-en-France, France.
In 1993, Lufthansa CityLine Flight 5634 crashed on approach to Charles de Gaulle Airport, killing all four on board.
Lufthansa CityLine Flight 5634 was operating a regional service under the Lufthansa brand.
On approach to Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport on January 6, 1993, the aircraft encountered poor weather conditions.
It deviated from its intended flight path and struck ground approximately two kilometers from the runway.
All four occupants on board were killed in the impact.
Investigators examined pilot communication and navigation aids to determine the cause.
The crash prompted reviews of approach procedures at one of Europe’s busiest airports.
Lufthansa CityLine Flight 5634
Charles de Gaulle Airport
Roissy-en-France
1995day.year
A chemical fire in an apartment complex in Manila, Philippines, leads to the discovery of plans for Project Bojinka, a mass-terrorist attack.
In 1995, a fire in Manila uncovered explosive plans for Project Bojinka, an al-Qaeda mass-terrorist plot.
Project Bojinka was a secret al-Qaeda plan aimed at bombing multiple airliners over the Pacific.
On January 6, 1995, a chemical fire broke out in a Manila apartment complex where plotters were cooking explosives.
Firefighters and police discovered bomb-making materials, blueprints, and suspect receipts.
Agents uncovered detailed instructions for simultaneous bombings and assassination attempts.
The foiled plot influenced counterterrorism cooperation between the Philippines and the United States.
It provided crucial intelligence that helped thwart later terrorist operations.
1995
Manila, Philippines
Project Bojinka
2005day.year
A train collision in Graniteville, South Carolina, United States, releases about 60 tons of chlorine gas.
In 2005, a train collision in Graniteville, South Carolina, punctured a chlorine tank, releasing a massive toxic gas cloud.
In Graniteville, South Carolina, two Norfolk Southern freight trains collided on January 6, 2005.
One tank car carrying chlorine was punctured, releasing approximately 60 tons of toxic gas into the community.
A dense greenish-yellow cloud enveloped nearby neighborhoods, forcing rapid evacuations.
Many residents and first responders suffered respiratory distress and other injuries.
HazMat teams worked around the clock to contain leaks and decontaminate affected areas.
The incident prompted new safety regulations for transporting hazardous materials by rail in the United States.
train collision
Graniteville
chlorine
2019day.year
Forty people are killed in a gold mine collapse in Badakhshan province, in northern Afghanistan.
On January 6, 2019, a gold mine in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province collapsed, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 workers.
In the early hours of January 6, 2019, the walls of a remote gold mine in Badakhshan province gave way, trapping dozens of miners.
Local officials reported that unstable rock formations and inadequate safety measures caused the catastrophic collapse.
Rescue teams faced harsh winter conditions and difficult terrain, delaying recovery efforts for victims.
Survivors described harrowing escapes through falling debris and thick dust.
The tragedy highlighted safety concerns in Afghanistan’s artisanal mining sector, where oversight is limited.
Aid groups and government authorities called for stricter regulations to prevent future disasters and protect vulnerable workers.
2019
gold mine
Badakhshan province