1943day.year
Pennsylvania Railroad's premier train derails at Frankford Junction in Philadelphia, killing 79 people and injuring 117 others.
A Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train derails at Frankford Junction in Philadelphia, resulting in 79 deaths and over 100 injuries.
On September 6, 1943, the Pennsylvania Railroad's premier passenger train derailed at Frankford Junction in Philadelphia while traveling at high speed. The accident claimed 79 lives and injured 117 others, making it one of the deadliest rail disasters in U.S. history. Investigators attributed the crash to a fractured rail combined with excessive speed. Rescue efforts were hampered by the destruction of cars and limited emergency response protocols. The disaster prompted the Pennsylvania Railroad to overhaul track inspection procedures and reinforced the need for stricter safety regulations. Memorials for the victims were established in subsequent years, and the site remains a reminder of the importance of rail safety. The tragedy influenced federal transportation safety legislation in the postwar period.
Pennsylvania Railroad
derails
Frankford Junction
Philadelphia
1952day.year
A prototype aircraft crashes at the Farnborough Airshow in Hampshire, England, killing 29 spectators and the two on board.
A prototype aircraft crashes at the Farnborough Airshow in England, killing 29 spectators and two crew members.
During the Farnborough Airshow at Farnborough, Hampshire on September 6, 1952, a prototype de Havilland DH.110 jet disintegrated mid-air and crashed into the crowd. The tragic accident resulted in the deaths of 29 spectators and both pilots on board, making it one of the deadliest airshow disasters on record. Witnesses reported the aircraft breaking apart during a high-speed demonstration. Rescue workers faced chaotic scenes amid twisted metal and wounded bystanders. The crash prompted a thorough investigation that led to stricter safety zones and flight test protocols at public events. British aviation authorities overhauled airshow regulations to prevent future tragedies. Annual reviews of demonstration standards today trace their origins to the lessons learned at Farnborough in 1952.
1952
crashes
Farnborough Airshow
Hampshire
1971day.year
Paninternational Flight 112 crashes on the Bundesautobahn 7 highway near Hamburg Airport, in Hamburg, Germany, killing 22.
Paninternational Flight 112 crashed onto the Autobahn near Hamburg Airport on September 6, 1971, resulting in 22 fatalities.
The tragic accident spurred a review of runway safety and emergency planning.
Flight 112, operated by Paninternational, experienced severe engine trouble moments after lifting off from Hamburg Airport.
The crew attempted an emergency landing on the adjacent Bundesautobahn 7, a busy highway.
The aircraft struck vehicles and collided with roadside structures, igniting a fire upon impact.
Rescue teams arrived swiftly but could only confirm 22 deaths among passengers and crew.
Investigators determined that engine failure and a lack of clear emergency landing zones contributed to the disaster.
Recommendations for extended runway safety areas and stricter engine maintenance protocols followed.
German aviation authorities implemented new standards to prevent similar accidents in the future.
1971
Paninternational Flight 112
Bundesautobahn 7
Hamburg Airport
Hamburg
1985day.year
Midwest Express Airlines Flight 105 crashes near Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, killing all 31 people on board.
Midwest Express Flight 105 crashed shortly after takeoff from Milwaukee on September 6, 1985, killing all 31 aboard.
The accident prompted reviews of maintenance procedures and emergency response.
Flight 105, operated by a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, departed Milwaukee for Atlanta but suffered an engine malfunction almost immediately.
The crew attempted to return to Mitchell International Airport, but the aircraft lost altitude rapidly.
The jet impacted wooded terrain near the runway and burst into flames upon collision.
Emergency responders arrived on scene, but none of the 31 passengers and crew survived.
Investigators pointed to mechanical failure and limited reaction time as key contributors.
Subsequent regulations mandated more rigorous engine inspections and enhanced pilot training for engine-out scenarios.
The crash remains a somber reminder of the critical importance of aircraft maintenance and emergency preparedness.
1985
Midwest Express Airlines Flight 105
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
1997day.year
Royal Brunei Airlines Flight 238 crashes in the Lambir Hills National Park while on approach to Miri Airport in Malaysia, killing 10.
Royal Brunei Airlines Flight 238 crashes into Malaysia's Lambir Hills National Park during approach, killing all 10 aboard.
On September 6, 1997, Royal Brunei Airlines Flight 238, a Dornier 228 turboprop, was en route from Brunei to Miri, Malaysia.
While descending through dense jungle terrain in Lambir Hills National Park, the aircraft crashed, killing all ten passengers and crew.
The remote location and thick vegetation hampered immediate rescue and recovery efforts.
Official investigations pointed to pilot error and poor visibility as contributing factors.
In the aftermath, Brunei's national carrier reviewed its flight operation procedures and enhanced navigation systems on regional routes.
Memorial services were held in both Brunei and Malaysia to honor the victims and their families.
Royal Brunei Airlines Flight 238
Lambir Hills National Park
Miri Airport
2009day.year
The ro-ro ferry SuperFerry 9 sinks off the Zamboanga Peninsula in the Philippines with 971 persons aboard; all but ten are rescued.
The ro-ro ferry SuperFerry 9 sinks off the Zamboanga Peninsula in the Philippines; nearly all aboard are rescued.
On September 6, 2009, SuperFerry 9, a roll-on/roll-off passenger and cargo vessel, encountered severe flooding near the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Carrying 971 passengers and crew, the ship began listing dramatically in rough seas.
Philippine Coast Guard units and local fishermen mounted a large-scale rescue that saved 961 lives.
Investigators later attributed the disaster to structural vulnerabilities and poor maintenance of watertight compartments.
The incident spurred the Philippine maritime authority to enforce stricter safety inspections and crew training.
Commemorations and memorials were held for the ten victims lost in the tragedy.
SuperFerry 9's sinking remains a case study in maritime safety reforms.
2009
ro-ro ferry
SuperFerry 9
Zamboanga Peninsula
2012day.year
Sixty-one people die after a fishing boat capsizes off the İzmir Province coast of Turkey, near the Greek Aegean islands.
A fishing boat capsizes off Turkey's İzmir coast near the Greek Aegean islands, resulting in 61 deaths.
On September 6, 2012, an overcrowded fishing vessel carrying migrants capsized in rough seas off İzmir Province, Turkey.
The boat was attempting to reach the Greek Aegean islands when it was overwhelmed by waves and instability.
Sixty-one passengers, many fleeing conflict and poverty, drowned in the disaster.
Turkish search and rescue teams, aided by passing ships, retrieved survivors from the cold water.
The tragedy underscored the dangers faced by asylum seekers crossing maritime borders.
International agencies urged safer migration pathways and humanitarian support for refugees.
Annual memorials honor the victims and call for continued efforts to protect vulnerable migrants.
2012
capsizes
İzmir Province
Turkey
Greek Aegean islands