On December 11.1998 ; Thai Airways Flight 261 crashes near Surat Thani Airport, killing 101. The pilot flying the Airbus A310-300 is thought to have suffered spatial disorientation. source
On December 11.1998 ; Thai Airways Flight 261 crashes near Surat Thani Airport, killing 101. The pilot flying the Airbus A310-300 is thought to have suffered spatial disorientation.
On December 12.1866 ; Oaks explosion: The worst mining disaster in England kills 383 miners and rescuers. source
On December 12.1866 ; Oaks explosion: The worst mining disaster in England kills 383 miners and rescuers.
On December 12.1915 ; President of the Republic of China, Yuan Shikai, announces his intention to reinstate the monarchy and proclaim himself Emperor of China. source
On December 12.1915 ; President of the Republic of China, Yuan Shikai, announces his intention to reinstate the monarchy and proclaim himself Emperor of China.
On December 12.1948 ; Malayan Emergency: Batang Kali massacre: Fourteen members of the Scots Guards stationed in Malaya allegedly massacre 24 unarmed civilians and set fire to the village. source
On December 12.1948 ; Malayan Emergency: Batang Kali massacre: Fourteen members of the Scots Guards stationed in Malaya allegedly massacre 24 unarmed civilians and set fire to the village.
On December 12.1969 ; Years of Lead: Piazza Fontana bombing: The offices of Banca Nazionale dell'Agricoltura in Piazza Fontana, Milan, are bombed. source
On December 12.1969 ; Years of Lead: Piazza Fontana bombing: The offices of Banca Nazionale dell'Agricoltura in Piazza Fontana, Milan, are bombed.
On December 13.1938 ; The Holocaust: The Neuengamme concentration camp opens in the Bergedorf district of Hamburg, Germany. source
On December 13.1938 ; The Holocaust: The Neuengamme concentration camp opens in the Bergedorf district of Hamburg, Germany.
On December 13.1977 ; Air Indiana Flight 216 crashes near Evansville Regional Airport, killing 29, including the University of Evansville basketball team, support staff, and boosters of the team. source
On December 13.1977 ; Air Indiana Flight 216 crashes near Evansville Regional Airport, killing 29, including the University of Evansville basketball team, support staff, and boosters of the team.
On December 14.1911 ; Roald Amundsen's team, comprising himself, Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, and Oscar Wisting, becomes the first to reach the South Pole. source
On December 14.1911 ; Roald Amundsen's team, comprising himself, Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, and Oscar Wisting, becomes the first to reach the South Pole.
On December 14.1918 ; Portuguese President Sidónio Pais is assassinated. source
On December 14.1918 ; Portuguese President Sidónio Pais is assassinated.
On December 15.1973 ; John Paul Getty III, grandson of American billionaire J. Paul Getty, is found alive near Naples, Italy, after being kidnapped by an Italian gang on July 10. source
On December 15.1973 ; John Paul Getty III, grandson of American billionaire J. Paul Getty, is found alive near Naples, Italy, after being kidnapped by an Italian gang on July 10.
On December 16.1960 ; A United Airlines Douglas DC-8 and a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation collide over Staten Island, New York and crash, killing all 128 people aboard both aircraft and six more on the ground. source
On December 16.1960 ; A United Airlines Douglas DC-8 and a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation collide over Staten Island, New York and crash, killing all 128 people aboard both aircraft and six more on the ground.
On December 16.1985 ; Paul Castellano and Thomas Bilotti are shot dead on the orders of John Gotti, who assumes leadership of New York's Gambino crime family. source
On December 16.1985 ; Paul Castellano and Thomas Bilotti are shot dead on the orders of John Gotti, who assumes leadership of New York's Gambino crime family.
On December 17.1835 ; The second Great Fire of New York destroys 50 acres (200,000 square meters) of New York City's Financial District. source
On December 17.1835 ; The second Great Fire of New York destroys 50 acres (200,000 square meters) of New York City's Financial District.
On December 17.1837 ; A fire in the Winter Palace of Saint Petersburg kills 30 guards. source
On December 17.1837 ; A fire in the Winter Palace of Saint Petersburg kills 30 guards.
On December 17.1935 ; First flight of the Douglas DC-3. source
On December 17.1935 ; First flight of the Douglas DC-3.
On December 18.1981 ; First flight of the Russian heavy strategic bomber Tu-160, the world's largest combat aircraft, largest supersonic aircraft and largest variable-sweep wing aircraft built. source
On December 18.1981 ; First flight of the Russian heavy strategic bomber Tu-160, the world's largest combat aircraft, largest supersonic aircraft and largest variable-sweep wing aircraft built.
On December 19.1956 ; Irish-born physician John Bodkin Adams is arrested in connection with the suspicious deaths of more than 160 patients. Eventually he is convicted only of minor charges. source
On December 19.1956 ; Irish-born physician John Bodkin Adams is arrested in connection with the suspicious deaths of more than 160 patients. Eventually he is convicted only of minor charges.
On December 19.1997 ; SilkAir Flight 185 crashes into the Musi River, near Palembang in Indonesia, killing 104. source
On December 19.1997 ; SilkAir Flight 185 crashes into the Musi River, near Palembang in Indonesia, killing 104.
On December 20.1995 ; American Airlines Flight 965, a Boeing 757, crashes into a mountain 50 km north of Cali, Colombia killing 159. source
On December 20.1995 ; American Airlines Flight 965, a Boeing 757, crashes into a mountain 50 km north of Cali, Colombia killing 159.
On December 20.2004 ; A gang of thieves steal £26.5 million worth of currency from the Donegall Square West headquarters of Northern Bank in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, one of the largest bank robberies in British history. source
On December 20.2004 ; A gang of thieves steal £26.5 million worth of currency from the Donegall Square West headquarters of Northern Bank in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, one of the largest bank robberies in British history.
On December 21.1910 ; An underground explosion at the Hulton Bank Colliery No. 3 Pit in Over Hulton, Westhoughton, England, kills 344 miners. source
On December 21.1910 ; An underground explosion at the Hulton Bank Colliery No. 3 Pit in Over Hulton, Westhoughton, England, kills 344 miners.
On December 22.1891 ; Asteroid 323 Brucia becomes the first asteroid discovered using photography. source
On December 22.1891 ; Asteroid 323 Brucia becomes the first asteroid discovered using photography.
On December 24.1851 ; Library of Congress burns. source
On December 24.1851 ; Library of Congress burns.
On December 24.1945 ; Five of nine children become missing after their home in Fayetteville, West Virginia, is burned down. source
On December 24.1945 ; Five of nine children become missing after their home in Fayetteville, West Virginia, is burned down.
On December 24.1974 ; Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin, Australia. source
On December 24.1974 ; Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin, Australia.
On December 25.2012 ; An Antonov An-72 plane crashes close to the city of Shymkent, killing 27 people. source
On December 25.2012 ; An Antonov An-72 plane crashes close to the city of Shymkent, killing 27 people.
On December 26.1811 ; A theater fire in Richmond, Virginia kills the Governor of Virginia George William Smith and the president of the First National Bank of Virginia Abraham B. Venable. source
On December 26.1811 ; A theater fire in Richmond, Virginia kills the Governor of Virginia George William Smith and the president of the First National Bank of Virginia Abraham B. Venable.
On December 26.1871 ; Gilbert and Sullivan collaborate for the first time, on their lost opera, Thespis. It does modestly well, but the two would not collaborate again for four years. source
On December 26.1871 ; Gilbert and Sullivan collaborate for the first time, on their lost opera, Thespis. It does modestly well, but the two would not collaborate again for four years.
On December 28.2014 ; Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 crashes into the Karimata Strait en route from Surabaya to Singapore, killing all 162 people aboard. source
On December 28.2014 ; Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 crashes into the Karimata Strait en route from Surabaya to Singapore, killing all 162 people aboard.
On December 29.1860 ; The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of screw propeller, iron hull and iron armour, renders all previous warships obsolescent. source
On December 29.1860 ; The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of screw propeller, iron hull and iron armour, renders all previous warships obsolescent.