1965day.year
Eastern Air Lines Flight 663 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean and explodes, killing all 84 people onboard.
Eastern Air Lines Flight 663 plunged into the Atlantic Ocean and exploded on impact on February 8, 1965, killing all 84 people aboard.
On February 8, 1965, Eastern Air Lines Flight 663 plunged into the Atlantic Ocean and exploded on impact. All 84 passengers and crew were killed instantly as the aircraft broke apart upon contact with the water. Rescue teams scoured the crash site but found only debris scattered across the ocean surface. The chilling event underscored the risks of commercial aviation in the 1960s. The tragedy remains one of the deadliest accidents in Eastern Air Lines' history.
1965
Eastern Air Lines Flight 663
Atlantic Ocean
1986day.year
Twenty-three people are killed when a VIA Rail passenger train collides with a Canadian National freight train near the town of Hinton, Alberta, making it one of the worst rail accidents in Canada.
A VIA Rail passenger train collided with a Canadian National freight train near Hinton, Alberta on February 8, 1986, killing 23 people.
On February 8, 1986, a VIA Rail passenger train collided head-on with a Canadian National freight train near Hinton, Alberta. Poor weather and limited visibility contributed to the disaster. Twenty-three passengers and crew members lost their lives, making it one of Canada's worst rail accidents. Survivors described harrowing escapes from the wreckage. The accident led to calls for enhanced rail safety measures and signalling protocols.
1986
VIA Rail
collides
Canadian National
Hinton, Alberta
1989day.year
Independent Air Flight 1851 strikes Pico Alto mountain while on approach to Santa Maria Airport in the Azores, killing all 144 passengers on board.
Independent Air Flight 1851 struck Pico Alto mountain near Santa Maria Airport in the Azores on February 8, 1989, killing all 144 people aboard.
On February 8, 1989, Independent Air Flight 1851 crashed into Pico Alto mountain on São Miguel Island in the Azores. The Boeing 707 was on final approach to Santa Maria Airport when it descended below the safe minimum altitude. The collision destroyed the aircraft and sparked a post-crash fire. All 144 passengers and crew perished in what became one of the region's worst aviation disasters. The tragedy underscored the importance of strict approach procedures in mountainous terrain.
1989
Independent Air Flight 1851
Pico Alto
Santa Maria Airport
Azores
1993day.year
An Iran Air Tours Tupolev Tu-154 and an Iranian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 collide mid-air near Qods, Iran, killing all 133 people onboard both aircraft.
A mid-air collision between an Iran Air Tours Tupolev Tu-154 and an Iranian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 near Qods, Iran on February 8, 1993, killed all 133 people aboard both aircraft.
On February 8, 1993, an Iran Air Tours Tupolev Tu-154 and an Iranian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 collided in mid-air over Qods, Iran. The mid-air collision caused both aircraft to plunge to the ground, killing all 133 passengers and crew on board. Rescue teams arrived to find wreckage and remains scattered across a wide crash area. The disaster prompted a thorough review of airspace coordination between civilian and military flights. Memorials continue to honor the victims of one of Iran's deadliest aviation accidents.
1993
Iran Air Tours
Tupolev Tu-154
Iranian Air Force
Sukhoi Su-24
collide mid-air
Qods, Iran
2010day.year
Over 2 miles (3.2 km) of road are buried after a storm in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan triggers a series of avalanches, killing at least 172 people and trapping over 2,000 others.
In February 2010, a severe storm in the Hindu Kush triggered massive avalanches that buried over two miles of road, killing at least 172 people and trapping more than 2,000 others.
In February 2010, a severe storm hit the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, unleashing heavy snowfall at high altitudes. The storm triggered a series of powerful avalanches that swept across mountain roads, burying over two miles of route beneath snow and ice. At least 172 people lost their lives as numerous vehicles and villages were engulfed, while more than 2,000 others became trapped under the snow. Rescue teams faced extreme weather conditions, high winds, and unstable slopes, complicating efforts to reach survivors. International aid and local volunteers eventually cleared the snow, but many victims remained unaccounted for due to the remote location. The tragedy highlighted the vulnerability of high mountain communities to sudden climatic disasters and prompted calls for improved early warning and preparedness systems.
2010
Hindu Kush
Afghanistan
series of avalanches
2013day.year
A blizzard kills at least 18 and leaves hundreds of thousands of people without electricity in the northeastern United States and parts of Canada.
A powerful blizzard in early February 2013 swept through the northeastern United States and parts of Canada, causing at least 18 deaths and widespread power outages.
In early February 2013, a historic blizzard blanketed the northeastern United States and eastern Canada with record snowfall and hurricane-force winds. Temperatures plummeted as snowdrifts reached several feet, stranding motorists and halting public transportation. At least 18 people died due to exposure, accidents, or heart attacks during snow removal. The storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, leaving communities in darkness and cold. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to clear roads and restore electricity, but icy conditions and downed lines slowed relief efforts. The blizzard underscored the challenges of urban snow management and prompted cities to review their winter weather preparedness strategies.
2013
A blizzard
northeastern United States
2014day.year
A hotel fire in Medina, Saudi Arabia, kills 15 Egyptian pilgrims with 130 others injured.
In September 2014, a hotel fire in the holy city of Medina, Saudi Arabia, claimed the lives of 15 Egyptian pilgrims and injured 130 others.
In September 2014, a devastating fire erupted at a hotel in Medina, Saudi Arabia, one of Islam's holiest cities. The blaze broke out in the early morning hours, rapidly spreading through several floors occupied by Egyptian pilgrims on a religious journey. Fifteen pilgrims tragically lost their lives, and an additional 130 people sustained injuries ranging from smoke inhalation to severe burns. Firefighters battled intense heat and dense smoke to rescue guests and control the flames, aided by local authorities and medical teams. Investigations later focused on possible electrical faults and safety regulation lapses within the historic building. The incident raised concerns about fire safety standards in pilgrimage accommodations and led to calls for stricter enforcement of building codes.
2014
hotel fire
Medina, Saudi Arabia
Egyptian
2020day.year
A soldier opens fire in a military camp and a shopping center in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, killing 29 people and injuring 58 others before being shot dead by police the next day. It is considered the deadliest mass shooting in the country's history.
On February 8, 2020, a soldier’s rampage at a military camp and shopping center in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, resulted in 29 deaths and 58 injuries before law enforcement intervened in the country’s deadliest mass shooting.
On February 8, 2020, a lone soldier launched an unprecedented attack at a military camp in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, seizing weapons and opening fire on colleagues. He then drove to a nearby shopping mall, where he continued his assault on civilians, creating widespread panic and chaos. Over the course of the day and into the following morning, 29 people were killed and 58 others injured before police tracked and fatally shot the perpetrator. The assailant evaded capture for nearly 18 hours, leading to a massive security operation involving the military, police, and special forces. The attack shocked the nation, prompting grief, fear, and calls for tighter control over military firearms and mental health support for servicemen. In its aftermath, Thailand reviewed its base security protocols and mental health programs, striving to prevent future tragedies of this scale.
2020
opens fire
military camp
Nakhon Ratchasima
Thailand
police
2023day.year
Two children are killed and six others are injured when a bus crashes into a daycare centre in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The driver is arrested and charged with homicide and dangerous driving.
On February 8, 2023, a bus veered into a daycare centre in Laval, Quebec, killing two children and injuring six others; the driver was arrested and charged with homicide and dangerous driving.
On February 8, 2023, a city transit bus veered off course and crashed into a daycare centre in Laval, Quebec, during morning drop-off. The impact tragically killed two young children and left six others injured, shaking the tight-knit community. Eyewitnesses reported that the driver appeared to lose control before the bus plowed through the building's entrance. Emergency responders swiftly treated the injured and secured the scene, while law enforcement arrested the driver at the hospital shortly afterward. Charges of homicide and dangerous driving were laid against the driver, who faced legal proceedings and public scrutiny. The incident spurred discussions on transit safety, building design, and the need for enhanced protective measures at facilities serving vulnerable populations.
2023
bus crashes
Laval, Quebec
Canada
charged
homicide
dangerous driving