Yeti Airlines Flight 691
2023
Yeti Airlines Flight 691 crashes near Pokhara International Airport, killing all 72 people on board..
January-15
Historical Events on January 15
January
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and tsunami
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai volcano erupts, cutting off communications with Tonga and causing a tsunami across the Pacific.
2022
2021 West Sulawesi earthquake
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia's Sulawesi island killing at least 105 and injuring 3,369 people.
2021
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare confirms the first case of COVID-19 in Japan.
2020
Somalia
Somali militants attack the DusitD2 hotel in Nairobi, Kenya killing at least 21 people and injuring 19.
2019
Theresa May
2019
Theresa May's UK government suffers the biggest government defeat in modern times, when 432 MPs voting against the proposed European Union withdrawal agreement, giving her opponents a majority of 230..
Construction
British multinational construction and facilities management services company Carillion goes into liquidation – officially, "the largest ever trading liquidation in the UK".
2018
Kenya Defence Forces
The Kenyan Army suffers its worst defeat ever in a battle with Al-Shabaab Islamic insurgents in El-Adde, Somalia. An estimated 150 Kenyan soldiers are killed in the battle.
2016
Swiss National Bank
The Swiss National Bank abandons the cap on the Swiss franc's value relative to the euro, causing turmoil in international financial markets.
2015
Badrashin railway accident
A train carrying Egyptian Army recruits derails near Giza, Greater Cairo, killing 19 and injuring 120 others.
2013
US Airways Flight 1549
2009
US Airways Flight 1549 ditches safely in the Hudson River after the plane collides with birds less than two minutes after take-off. This becomes known as "The Miracle on the Hudson" as all 155 people on board were rescued..
European Space Agency
ESA's SMART-1 lunar orbiter discovers elements such as calcium, aluminum, silicon, iron, and other surface elements on the Moon.
2005
Wikipedia
Wikipedia, a free wiki content encyclopedia, is launched (Wikipedia Day).
2001
United Nations
The United Nations deadline for the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from occupied Kuwait expires, preparing the way for the start of Operation Desert Storm.
1991
Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II, in her capacity as Queen of Australia, signs letters patent allowing Australia to become the first Commonwealth realm to institute its own Victoria Cross in its honours system.
1991
Pope John Paul II
1981
Pope John Paul II receives a delegation from the Polish trade union Solidarity at the Vatican led by Lech Wałęsa..
Linjeflyg Flight 618
Linjeflyg Flight 618 crashes in Kälvesta near Stockholm Bromma Airport in Stockholm, Sweden, killing 22 people.
1977
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford's would-be assassin, Sara Jane Moore, is sentenced to life in prison.
1976
Alvor Agreement
The Alvor Agreement is signed, ending the Angolan War of Independence and giving Angola independence from Portugal.
1975
Vietnam War
Vietnam War: Citing progress in peace negotiations, President Richard Nixon announces the suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam.
1973
Nigerian Civil War
1970
Nigerian Civil War: Biafran rebels surrender following an unsuccessful 32-month fight for independence from Nigeria..
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi is proclaimed premier of Libya.
1970
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union launches Soyuz 5.
1969
Super Bowl
The first Super Bowl is played in Los Angeles. The Green Bay Packers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 35–10.
1967
First Nigerian Republic
The First Nigerian Republic, led by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa is overthrown in a military coup d'état.
1966
Derveni papyrus
1962
The Derveni papyrus, Europe's oldest surviving manuscript dating to 340 BC, is found in northern Greece..
Dutch New Guinea
Netherlands New Guinea Conflict: Indonesian Navy fast patrol boat RI Macan Tutul commanded by Commodore Yos Sudarso sunk in Arafura Sea by the Dutch Navy.
1962
Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War: The Communist forces take over Tianjin from the Nationalist government.
1949
Black Dahlia
The Black Dahlia murder: The dismembered corpse of Elizabeth Short is found in Los Angeles.
1947
World War II
World War II: The Soviet counter-offensive at Voronezh begins.
1943
The Pentagon
1943
The Pentagon is dedicated in Arlington County, Virginia..
Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War: Nationalists and Republicans both withdraw after suffering heavy losses, ending the Second Battle of the Corunna Road.
1937
O-I Glass
The first building to be completely covered in glass, built for the Owens-Illinois Glass Company, is completed in Toledo, Ohio.
1936
1934 Nepal–India earthquake
The 8.0 Mw Nepal–Bihar earthquake strikes Nepal and Bihar with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), killing an estimated 6,000–10,700 people.
1934
Rosa Luxemburg
Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, two of the most prominent communists in Germany, are clubbed and then shot to death by members of the Freikorps at the end of the Spartacist uprising.
1919
Great Molasses Flood
1919
Great Molasses Flood: A wave of molasses released from an exploding storage tank sweeps through Boston, Massachusetts, killing 21 and injuring 150..
Palestinian Arabic
Palestinian Arabic-language Falastin newspaper founded.
1911
Buffalo Bill Dam
Construction ends on the Buffalo Bill Dam in Wyoming, United States, which was the highest dam in the world at the time, at 99 m (325 ft).
1910
Alpha Kappa Alpha
The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority becomes the first Greek-letter organization founded and established by African American college women.
1908
James Naismith
James Naismith publishes the rules of basketball.
1892
The Coca-Cola Company
1889
The Coca-Cola Company, then known as the Pemberton Medicine Company, is incorporated in Atlanta..
Afrikaans
The first newspaper in Afrikaans, Die Afrikaanse Patriot, is published in Paarl.
1876
Thomas Nast
Thomas Nast publishes a political cartoon symbolizing the Democratic Party with a donkey ("A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion") for Harper's Weekly.
1870
Regent's Park skating disaster
Forty people die when ice covering the boating lake at Regent's Park, London, collapses.
1867
American Civil War
American Civil War: Fort Fisher in North Carolina falls to the Union, thus cutting off the last major seaport of the Confederacy.
1865
Greek War of Independence
1822
Greek War of Independence: Demetrios Ypsilantis is elected president of the legislative assembly..
David Brewster
A paper by David Brewster is read to the Royal Society, belatedly announcing his discovery of what we now call the biaxial class of doubly-refracting crystals. On the same day, Augustin-Jean Fresnel signs a "supplement" (submitted four days later) on reflection of polarized light.
1818
War of 1812
War of 1812: American frigate USS President, commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, is captured by a squadron of four British frigates.
1815
Robert Morris (financier)
Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris addresses the U.S. Congress to recommend establishment of a national mint and decimal coinage.
1782
American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War: New Connecticut (present-day Vermont) declares its independence.
1777
British Museum
1759
The British Museum opens to the public..
Truce of Yam-Zapolsky
Truce of Yam-Zapolsky: Russia cedes Livonia to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
1582
Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I is crowned Queen of England and Ireland in Westminster Abbey, London.
1559
Francis I of France
King Francis I of France gives Jean-François Roberval a commission to settle the province of New France (Canada) and provide for the spread of the "Holy Catholic faith".
1541
AD 69
Otho seizes power in Rome, proclaiming himself Emperor of Rome, beginning a reign of only three months.
69