March 14

On March 14, 1926, a passenger train traveling between Heredia and Tibás in Costa Rica derailed from a bridge over the Río Virilla. The accident resulted in 248 fatalities and left 93 passengers wounded, making it one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters. Reports indicated that a broken coupling caused the rear cars to derail and plunge off the bridge. Many passengers were local festival-goers returning home, and the wooden cars lacked adequate safety features. Rescue operations were hampered by the remote location and limited medical facilities in the area. The tragedy prompted government investigations into railway maintenance and led to improvements in bridge inspections and car construction standards.

During a routine training mission on March 14, 1961, a USAF B-52 Stratofortress experienced a structural failure after air-to-air refueling and crashed near Yuba City. The two crew members ejected safely, but the aircraft was destroyed. The nuclear weapons on board were recovered intact without any release of radioactive material. The incident was classified as a Broken Arrow accident. It prompted stricter safety protocols for airborne nuclear arsenals within the Strategic Air Command.

Sterling Airways Flight 296, en route from Colombo to Copenhagen, crashed near Kalba, United Arab Emirates, while attempting to land at Dubai International Airport on March 14, 1972. Pilot error combined with challenging weather conditions led to the aircraft striking the ground short of the runway. The crash killed all 112 people on board. It was the deadliest commercial aviation accident in the region at the time. The tragedy prompted reviews of landing procedures and crew training standards in the aviation industry.

On March 14, 1979, Alia Royal Jordanian Flight 600, flying from Baghdad to Amman with a stop in Doha, crashed while landing at Doha International Airport. Heavy rain and poor visibility caused the aircraft to touch down short of the runway, leading to a catastrophic impact. A post-crash fire ensued, and 45 people lost their lives. The incident prompted Jordanian authorities to enhance airport landing aids and implement stricter weather-related operating procedures. It remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Qatar's history.

LOT Polish Airlines Flight 007, operating from New York to Warsaw, crashed during its final approach to Okecie Airport on March 14, 1980. Thick fog and instrument difficulties contributed to the aircraft striking the ground short of the runway. All 87 people on board, including a 14-member American boxing team returning from a tournament, perished in the crash. The sudden loss of prominent athletes shocked the sports world and Polish society. The tragedy led to upgrades in airport radar systems and stricter approach protocols in challenging weather.

On March 14, 2019, Cyclone Idai struck the Mozambique coast near Beira as one of the worst tropical cyclones to hit the Southern Hemisphere. The storm brought torrential rains and powerful winds, leading to widespread flooding and infrastructure collapse. Beira’s protective sea walls were breached, submerging large parts of the city under water. The disaster affected millions across Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, with more than 1,000 confirmed fatalities. International aid agencies launched large-scale relief operations to provide food, clean water, and medical assistance. Cyclone Idai underscored the vulnerability of coastal communities to extreme weather events and highlighted the need for improved disaster preparedness.