1988day.year
Ramstein air show disaster: Three aircraft of the Frecce Tricolori demonstration team collide and the wreckage falls into the crowd. Seventy-five are killed and 346 seriously injured.
A mid-air collision at the Ramstein air show kills 75 and injures hundreds, becoming one of Europe's worst air show disasters.
On August 28, 1988, during an air show at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, three aircraft from the Italian Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team collided in flight. The wreckage plummeted into spectators, igniting fires and causing panic. Seventy-five people were killed instantly, and 346 spectators suffered serious injuries. Emergency responders faced chaos as they worked to treat the wounded amid oily debris and flames. The tragedy led to stricter safety regulations for air shows worldwide. Investigations revealed gaps in crowd barriers and flight protocols. Survivors recount harrowing stories of escaping the inferno and assisting others. The disaster remains a sobering reminder of the risks involved in aerial demonstrations.
1988
Ramstein air show disaster
Frecce Tricolori
1990day.year
An F5 tornado strikes the Illinois cities of Plainfield and Joliet, killing 29 people.
An F5 tornado devastates Plainfield and Joliet, Illinois, killing 29 and leaving significant destruction.
On August 28, 1990, a powerful F5 tornado tore through the northeastern suburbs of Plainfield and Joliet, Illinois. The twister carved a path of destruction over 15 miles, leveling homes, businesses, and farmland. Winds exceeding 260 mph tossed vehicles and uprooted large trees. Twenty-nine people lost their lives, making it one of the deadliest tornadoes in Illinois history. More than 350 residents were injured, and thousands were left homeless. Emergency crews and volunteers worked around the clock to rescue survivors and clear debris. The disaster prompted improvements in tornado warning systems and building codes. It remains a stark example of nature's destructive power in the Midwest.
An F5 tornado
Illinois
Plainfield
Joliet
1993day.year
A Tajikistan Airlines Yakovlev Yak-40 crashes during takeoff from Khorog Airport in Tajikistan, killing 82.
In 1993, a Tajikistan Airlines Yakovlev Yak-40 crashed during takeoff at Khorog Airport, resulting in 82 fatalities.
On August 28, 1993, a Tajikistan Airlines Yakovlev Yak-40 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from the mountainous Khorog Airport in Tajikistan.
Carrying passengers and crew, the flight encountered difficulties amidst challenging weather and terrain conditions.
The plane failed to gain proper altitude and collided with the rugged landscape.
Eighty-two people on board lost their lives, marking one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the region's history.
The tragedy underscored the dangers of operating small aircraft in high-altitude airports.
Investigations highlighted infrastructural and procedural shortcomings at remote airfields.
The accident prompted calls for safety improvements and better pilot training in similar environments.
Tajikistan Airlines
Yakovlev Yak-40
crashes
Khorog Airport