Discover · History

On this day — August 7

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

2020

Milestone

Air India Express Flight 1344 overshoots the runway at Calicut International Airport in the Malappuram district of Kerala, India, and crashes, killing 21 of the 190 people on board.

2008

Politics

The start of the Russo-Georgian War over the territory of South Ossetia.

2007

Milestone

At AT&T Park

Barry Bonds hits his 756th career home run to surpass Hank Aaron's 33-year-old record.

1999

Politics

The Chechnya-based Islamic International Brigade invades neighboring Dagestan.

1998

Milestone

Bombings at United States embassies in Dar es Salaam

Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya kill approximately 212 people.

1997

Science

Space Shuttle Program

The Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-85 from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

1997

Milestone

Fine Air Flight 101 crashes after takeoff from Miami International Airport

killing five people.

1995

Disaster

The Chilean government declares state of emergency in the southern half of the country in response to an event of intense, cold, wind, rain and snowfall known as the White Earthquake.

1993

Milestone

Ada Deer, a Menominee activist

is sworn in as the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

1990

Politics

First American soldiers arrive in Saudi Arabia as part of the Gulf War.

1989

Milestone

U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland (D-TX) and 15 others die in a plane crash in Ethiopia.

1989

Milestone

The National Cold Fusion Institute opened in Salt Lake City.

1987

Politics

Cold War: Lynne Cox becomes the first person to swim from the United States to the Soviet Union

crossing the Bering Strait from Little Diomede Island in Alaska to Big Diomede in the Soviet Union.

1985

Milestone

Takao Doi, Mamoru Mohri and Chiaki Mukai are chosen to be Japan's first astronauts.

1981

Milestone

Air India Express Flight 1344 overshoots the runway at Calicut International Airport in the Malappuram district of Kerala, India, and crashes, killing 21 of the 190 people on board.

The start of the Russo-Georgian War over the territory of South Ossetia.

At AT&T Park

The Chechnya-based Islamic International Brigade invades neighboring Dagestan.

Bombings at United States embassies in Dar es Salaam

Space Shuttle Program

Fine Air Flight 101 crashes after takeoff from Miami International Airport

The Chilean government declares state of emergency in the southern half of the country in response to an event of intense, cold, wind, rain and snowfall known as the White Earthquake.

Ada Deer, a Menominee activist

First American soldiers arrive in Saudi Arabia as part of the Gulf War.

U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland (D-TX) and 15 others die in a plane crash in Ethiopia.

The National Cold Fusion Institute opened in Salt Lake City.

Cold War: Lynne Cox becomes the first person to swim from the United States to the Soviet Union

Takao Doi, Mamoru Mohri and Chiaki Mukai are chosen to be Japan's first astronauts.

The Washington Star ceases all operations after 128 years of publication.