Discover · History

On this day — August 16

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

2020

Disaster

The August Complex fire in California burns more than one million acres of land.

2015

Milestone

More than 96 people are killed and hundreds injured following a series of air-raids by the Syrian Arab Air Force on the rebel-held market town of Douma.

2015

Milestone

Trigana Air Flight 267

an ATR 42, crashes in Oksibil, Bintang Mountains Regency, killing all 54 people on board.

2013

Milestone

The ferry St

Thomas Aquinas collides with a cargo ship and sinks at Cebu, Philippines, killing 61 people with 59 others missing.

2012

Milestone

South African police fatally shoot 34 miners and wound 78 more during an industrial dispute at Marikana near Rustenburg.

2010

Milestone

AIRES Flight 8250 crashes at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport in San Andrés

San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia, killing two people.

2008

Milestone

The Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago is topped off at 1,389 feet (423 m)

at the time becoming the world's highest residence above ground-level.

2005

Milestone

West Caribbean Airways Flight 708

a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, crashes in Machiques, Venezuela, killing all 160 people on board.

1991

Milestone

Indian Airlines Flight 257

a Boeing 737-200, crashes during approach to Imphal Airport, killing all 69 people on board.

1989

Milestone

A solar particle event affects computers at the Toronto Stock Exchange

forcing a halt to trading.

1987

Milestone

Northwest Airlines Flight 255

a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, crashes after takeoff in Detroit, Michigan, killing 154 of the 155 on board, plus two people on the ground.

1986

Milestone

A Sudan Airways Fokker F27 Friendship is shot down near Malakal in present day South Sudan

killing 60.

1975

Milestone

Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam symbolically hands over land to the Gurindji people after the eight-year Wave Hill walk-off, a landmark event in the history of Indigenous land rights in Australia, commemorated in a 1991 song by Paul Kelly and an annual celebration.

1972

Disaster

In an unsuccessful coup d'état attempt

the Royal Moroccan Air Force fires upon Hassan II of Morocco's plane while he is traveling back to Rabat.

1966

Politics

Vietnam War: The House Un-American Activities Committee begins investigations of Americans who have aided the Viet Cong. The committee intends to introduce legislation making these activities illegal. Anti-war demonstrators disrupt the meeting and 50 people are arrested.