Discover · History

On this day — January 18

A hand-curated thread of what happened on this date, across centuries.

2026

Disaster

At least 45 people are killed and 292 others injured after two trains collide in Adamuz in the worst railway disaster in over a decade in Spain.

2025

Milestone

The popular social media app

TikTok, is banned in the United States, after the passing of PAFACA.

2023

Milestone

A helicopter crash in Ukraine leaves 14 people dead

including the country's Interior Minister, Denys Monastyrsky.

2019

Milestone

An oil pipeline explosion near Tlahuelilpan

Hidalgo, Mexico, kills 137 people.

2018

Disaster

A bus catches fire on the Samara–Shymkent road in Yrgyz District, Aktobe, Kazakhstan

The fire kills 52 passengers, with three passengers and two drivers escaping.

2012

Milestone

More than 115,000 websites engage in an online protest against the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act in the US.[citation needed] The websites involved viewed the laws as infringing on the right to free speech and many of them temporarily shut down in protest.

2008

Milestone

The Euphronios Krater is unveiled in Rome after being returned to Italy by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

2007

Milestone

The strongest storm in the United Kingdom in 17 years kills 14 people and Germany sees the worst storm since 1999 with 13 deaths. Cyclone Kyrill causes at least 44 deaths across 20 countries in Western Europe.

2005

Milestone

The Airbus A380

the world's largest commercial jet, is unveiled at a ceremony in Toulouse, France

2003

Disaster

A bushfire kills four people and destroys more than 500 homes in Canberra

Australia.

2002

Politics

The Sierra Leone Civil War is declared over.

1993

Milestone

Martin Luther King, Jr

Day is officially observed for the first time in all 50 US states.

1990

Milestone

Washington, D.C.

Mayor Marion Barry is arrested for drug possession in an FBI sting.

1988

Milestone

China Southwest Airlines Flight 4146 crashes near Chongqing Baishiyi Airport

killing all 98 passengers and 10 crew members.

1986

Milestone

An Aerovías Sud Aviation Caravelle crashes on approach to Mundo Maya International Airport in Flores

Petén, Guatemala, killing all 94 people on board.