1666day.year
The Royal Exchange burns down in the Great Fire of London.
London’s central trading hub, the Royal Exchange, is destroyed in the Great Fire.
On 3 September 1666, the Great Fire of London, which had started days earlier, reached the Royal Exchange, engulfing the heart of the city’s commerce in flames. The iconic structure burned to the ground amid strong winds and wooden urban sprawl. Merchants lost vast quantities of goods, and thousands of citizens were displaced. The devastation prompted Parliament to commission a massive rebuilding plan. Architect Christopher Wren’s designs would reshape London’s skyline. In the aftermath, new building regulations and fire safety measures were introduced to prevent similar disasters.
1666
Royal Exchange
Great Fire of London
1878day.year
Over 640 die when the crowded pleasure boat Princess Alice collides with the Bywell Castle in the River Thames.
Over 640 passengers perish when the pleasure boat Princess Alice collides with the steamer Bywell Castle on the Thames in 1878.
On the evening of September 3, 1878, the excursion boat Princess Alice set off with holidaymakers along the River Thames.
Near Barking Creek, it was struck by the collier Bywell Castle amid strong currents and limited visibility.
The impact caused the wooden vessel to sink rapidly, plunging over 600 people into the cold water.
Rescue efforts by nearby boats saved only a fraction of the passengers as the river's swift tide claimed hundreds of lives.
An official inquest highlighted inadequate safety regulations and spurred reforms in maritime passenger transport.
The disaster remains Britain's worst inland waterway tragedy.
1878
Princess Alice
Bywell Castle
River Thames
1911day.year
A fire that started on Fraser's Million Dollar Pier destroys six to eight square blocks of Ocean Park, California.
A devastating fire on Fraser's Million Dollar Pier destroys much of Ocean Park, California, in 1911.
On September 3, 1911, a blaze ignited at Fraser’s Million Dollar Pier in Ocean Park.
The fire quickly spread through the wooden amusement structures and nearby buildings.
Six to eight city blocks were engulfed, destroying attractions, arcades, and homes.
Firefighting efforts were hampered by limited water supply and strong coastal winds.
The disaster prompted improved fire safety codes for California’s coastal resorts.
Rebuilding efforts transformed the area’s architecture and public spaces.
1911
Fraser's Million Dollar Pier
Ocean Park, California
1925day.year
USS Shenandoah, the United States' first American-built rigid airship, was destroyed in a squall line over Noble County, Ohio. Fourteen of her 42-man crew perished, including her commander, Zachary Lansdowne.
USS Shenandoah, America's first rigid airship, was torn apart in a sudden squall over Ohio in 1925, resulting in the deaths of 14 crew members.
The USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), the U.S. Navy's first domestically built rigid airship, embarked on its ninth flight on September 3, 1925. A severe squall line over Noble County, Ohio, subjected the vessel to violent turbulence and structural stress. The airship broke apart at altitude and crashed to the ground. Fourteen of the 42 crew members, including Commander Zachary Lansdowne, perished in the accident. The disaster prompted major revisions to airship design and operational protocols in America's lighter-than-air program.
1925
USS Shenandoah
squall line
Noble County, Ohio
Zachary Lansdowne
1989day.year
Cubana de Aviación Flight 9046 crashes into a residential area of Havana shortly after takeoff from José Martí International Airport, killing 150.
Cubana de Aviación Flight 9046 crashes into a Havana neighborhood shortly after takeoff, killing 150 people.
On September 3, 1989, a Cubana de Aviación Vickers Viscount operating Flight 9046 departs José Martí International Airport but soon encounters a catastrophic failure. The aircraft plummets into a densely populated residential area, igniting fires in multiple homes. All 150 passengers and crew aboard lose their lives in the crash. Emergency responders battle flames and recover victims amid thick smoke. Investigators point to mechanical malfunction and procedural lapses as likely causes. The tragedy prompts Cuban authorities to strengthen aviation safety regulations and maintenance protocols.
1989
Cubana de Aviación Flight 9046
Havana
José Martí International Airport
1989day.year
Varig Flight 254 crashes in the Amazon rainforest near São José do Xingu in Brazil, killing 12.
Varig Flight 254 crashes in the remote Amazon rainforest near São José do Xingu, resulting in 12 fatalities.
On September 3, 1989, Varig Flight 254 departed São Paulo bound for Belém but became lost due to a navigation error. The Boeing 737-200 strayed off course and crashed in the dense Amazon rainforest near São José do Xingu. Rescue teams faced extreme challenges locating the wreckage amid thick vegetation and remote terrain. Of those aboard, 12 lost their lives in the accident. Survivors endured harsh jungle conditions for days before they were rescued. The tragedy prompted reviews of flight planning procedures and navigational training within the Brazilian aviation industry.
Varig Flight 254
Amazon rainforest
São José do Xingu
1997day.year
Vietnam Airlines Flight 815 (Tupolev Tu-134) crashes on approach into Phnom Penh airport, killing 64.
Vietnam Airlines Flight 815 crashes on approach to Phnom Penh airport, killing 64 people.
On September 3, 1997, Vietnam Airlines Flight 815, a Tupolev Tu-134, was on approach to Phnom Penh International Airport when it crashed into a hillside. Poor visibility and misjudged descent parameters contributed to the aircraft undershooting the runway. The impact killed 64 of the passengers and crew on board. Local emergency services quickly responded but struggled with the remote terrain near the crash site. The accident led to investigations into pilot training and operational standards at Vietnam Airlines. It remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Cambodian history.
1997
Vietnam Airlines
Flight 815
Tupolev Tu-134
Phnom Penh
2010day.year
After taking off from Dubai International Airport, UPS Airlines Flight 6 develops an in-flight fire in the cargo hold and crashes near Nad Al Sheba, killing both crew members on board.
UPS Airlines Flight 6 catches fire and crashes near Dubai, killing both crew members.
On September 3, 2010, UPS Airlines Flight 6, a Boeing 747-400F cargo aircraft, departed Dubai International Airport when a fire erupted in its cargo hold. The crew declared an emergency and attempted to return to the airport amid heavy smoke and flames. Control was lost as the fire compromised critical flight systems, and the plane crashed near Nad Al Sheba. Both pilots on board perished in the accident. Investigators determined that hazardous materials onboard may have fueled the blaze. The incident led to tighter regulations on the transport of dangerous goods by air.
2010
Dubai International Airport
UPS Airlines Flight 6
Nad Al Sheba