On this day — August 21

an Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, attempts to divert to West Georgia Regional Airport after the left engine fails, but the aircraft crashes in Carroll County near Carrollton, Georgia, killing nine of the 29 people on board.

Morocco, killing all 44 people on board.

leaving 709–1,450 people killed and thousands injured.

killing up to 1,800 people within a 20-kilometre (12 mi) range.

is assassinated at Manila International Airport (now renamed Ninoy Aquino International Airport in his honor).

The first troops of a multinational force lands in Beirut to oversee the Palestine Liberation Organization's withdrawal from Lebanon.

Manila, Philippines with several anti-Marcos political candidates injured.

leader of the Socialist Republic of Romania, publicly condemns the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, encouraging the Romanian population to arm itself against possible Soviet reprisals.

posthumously receives the first Medal of Honor to be awarded to an African American U.S. Marine.