1275day.year
An earthquake occurred in the south of Great Britain, notably causing multiple fatalities as well as destroying St Michael's Church on Glastonbury Tor.
A powerful earthquake shakes southern England, causing deaths and bringing down St Michael's Church atop Glastonbury Tor.
On September 11, 1275, a significant earthquake struck the region south of Glastonbury in southwest England.
Contemporary accounts report multiple deaths and widespread damage to homes and churches.
The quake notably collapsed the medieval St Michael's Church perched on Glastonbury Tor.
Witnesses described roaring ground and trembling structures throughout the surrounding parishes.
This seismic event remains one of the earliest documented earthquakes in English history.
It prompted local clergy to call for prayers and the reconstruction of sacred buildings.
1275
An earthquake
Glastonbury Tor
1881day.year
In the Swiss state of Glarus, a rockslide buries parts of the village of Elm, destroying 83 buildings and killing 115 people.
A massive rockslide in Glarus buries Elm village, destroying 83 buildings and killing 115 people.
On September 11, 1881, a massive rockslide crashed down on the village of Elm in the Swiss canton of Glarus.
Tens of thousands of cubic meters of limestone swept away 83 buildings, including homes and farms, and killed 115 residents.
Witnesses described thunderous collapses and a wall of debris that reshaped the valley floor in seconds.
The disaster prompted advances in geological study and early warning systems for mountain communities.
In the aftermath, Elm rebuilt with reinforced structures, and memorials now honor those who perished in one of Switzerland's worst natural tragedies.
1881
Swiss
Glarus
rockslide
Elm
1905day.year
The Ninth Avenue derailment occurs in New York City, killing 13.
A Ninth Avenue Elevated train in New York City derails, killing 13 passengers.
On September 11, 1905, a southbound train on New York City's Ninth Avenue Elevated Railway derailed near 107th Street.
The accident sent cars plunging off the elevated structure, resulting in the deaths of 13 passengers and injuries to dozens more.
Investigators attributed the crash to excessive speed on a curved section and inadequate braking systems.
The tragedy prompted calls for stricter safety regulations and improvements to urban transit infrastructure.
The Ninth Avenue derailment accelerated plans to replace elevated lines with safer, modern subway systems beneath the streets.
1905
Ninth Avenue derailment
1916day.year
The Quebec Bridge's central span collapses, killing 11 men. The bridge previously collapsed completely on August 29, 1907.
In 1916, the under-construction Quebec Bridge central span collapsed, killing 11 workers and marking the second collapse of the structure after its 1907 failure.
The Quebec Bridge was undergoing construction when on September 11, 1916, its central span buckled and plunged into the St. Lawrence River.
This disaster followed an earlier collapse in 1907, highlighting serious engineering and design flaws.
Eleven men lost their lives in the accident, underscoring the dangers of large-scale bridge construction in the early 20th century.
The tragedy prompted extensive investigations, revisions to engineering standards, and improvements in construction safety protocols.
Ultimately, the Quebec Bridge was completed and remains one of the longest cantilever bridges in the world, a testament to lessons learned from its catastrophic failures.
1916
Quebec Bridge
August 29
1907
1954day.year
Hurricane Edna hits New England (United States) as a Category 2 hurricane, causing significant damage and 29 deaths.
Hurricane Edna struck New England on September 11, 1954, as a Category 2 storm, inflicting widespread damage and causing 29 fatalities.
Hurricane Edna developed in the Atlantic before making landfall on Long Island and southern New England on September 11, 1954.
As a Category 2 hurricane, Edna brought sustained winds exceeding 100 mph and torrential rains to coastal communities.
Storm surge and flooding inundated streets, damaged homes, and disrupted power supplies across Massachusetts and Maine.
Emergency services conducted rescues amid rising waters, while residents coped with destroyed infrastructure and crop losses.
The storm claimed 29 lives and prompted significant reviews of emergency preparedness in the region.
Hurricane Edna remains a notable example of mid-century Atlantic hurricanes impacting the northeastern United States.
1954
Hurricane Edna
New England
Category 2 hurricane
1961day.year
Hurricane Carla strikes the Texas coast as a Category 4 hurricane, the second strongest storm ever to hit the state.
On September 11, 1961, Hurricane Carla struck the Texas coast as a Category 4 storm, marking the second strongest hurricane to ever hit the state.
On September 11, 1961, Hurricane Carla made landfall on the Texas coast as a Category 4 storm. With sustained winds exceeding 145 mph and a storm surge over 20 feet, it battered coastal communities along the Gulf of Mexico. Carla caused widespread destruction of homes, businesses, and agricultural land, inflicting hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. The impending disaster prompted one of the largest evacuations in US history at the time, with over half a million residents relocating inland. Although the hurricane was extraordinarily powerful, timely warnings and evacuations kept the death toll relatively low. Hurricane Carla remains a key case study in emergency management and meteorological forecasting.
1961
Hurricane Carla
Texas
1968day.year
Air France Flight 1611 crashes off Nice, France, killing 89 passengers and six crew.
On September 11, 1968, Air France Flight 1611 plunged into the sea off Nice, France, resulting in the loss of 95 lives.
On September 11, 1968, Air France Flight 1611, a Boeing 707, departed from Orly Airport bound for Ajaccio, Corsica. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced an onboard fire, which rapidly spread to critical control systems. The plane crashed into the Mediterranean Sea near Nice, killing all 89 passengers and six crew members on board. Investigations pointed to a possible explosion in the baggage hold, though the exact cause remains debated. The disaster prompted safety reviews of flight procedures and aircraft design. Today, Flight 1611 is remembered as one of the deadliest air accidents in French aviation history.
1968
Air France Flight 1611
Nice
1973day.year
JAT Airways Flight 769 crashes into the Maganik mountain range while on approach to Titograd Airport, killing 35 passengers and six crew.
In 1973, JAT Airways Flight 769 crashed into Montenegro’s Maganik mountains while approaching Titograd Airport, claiming 41 lives.
On September 11, 1973, JAT Airways Flight 769, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, was on approach to Titograd (now Podgorica) Airport in Montenegro. Navigational difficulties and poor mountainous weather conditions led the aircraft to descend below safe altitude. The plane collided with the Maganik mountain range, instantly killing all 35 passengers and six crew members on board. Rescue teams faced rugged terrain and limited visibility in their recovery efforts. Investigations highlighted the need for improved navigational aids and stricter approach protocols in mountainous regions. The tragedy remains one of the deadliest in Yugoslav civil aviation history.
JAT Airways Flight 769
Maganik
Titograd Airport
1974day.year
Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 crashes in Charlotte, North Carolina, killing 69 passengers and two crew.
Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 crashed on approach to Charlotte, North Carolina, resulting in 71 fatalities.
On September 11, 1974, Eastern Air Lines Flight 212, a DC-9 airliner, was on its final approach to Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Adverse weather conditions and pilot challenges led to a hard landing short of the runway.
The aircraft broke apart on impact, and fire consumed much of the wreckage.
Of the 82 souls on board, 69 passengers and two crew members lost their lives, making it one of the deadliest crashes in the airline's history.
The accident prompted a thorough investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, leading to improvements in cockpit resource management and instrument landing procedures to enhance aviation safety.
1974
Eastern Air Lines Flight 212
Charlotte
North Carolina
1985day.year
Moimenta-Alcafache train crash, the worst railway accident to occur in Portugal.
A head-on collision near Moimenta-Alcafache in Portugal on September 11, 1985, became the country's deadliest rail disaster.
On September 11, 1985, two passenger trains collided head-on near Moimenta-Alcafache in central Portugal.
The crash occurred on a single-track section of the Linha do Centro railway, leading to catastrophic damage.
Local emergency services and volunteers rushed to the site, but rescuing survivors proved difficult amid twisted metal and fire.
The official death toll reached 49, with over 70 injured, marking it the worst railway accident in Portuguese history.
The tragedy prompted reviews of rail safety protocols, infrastructure investment, and improved communication systems on single-track routes.
1985
Moimenta-Alcafache train crash
Portugal
1990day.year
A Faucett Boeing 727 disappears in the Atlantic Ocean while being flown from Malta to Peru.
A Faucett Perú Boeing 727 vanished over the Atlantic en route from Malta to Peru, sparking one of aviation's enduring mysteries.
On September 11, 1990, a Faucett Perú Boeing 727 departed Malta's Luqa Airport bound for Lima with stops planned in Madrid and Miami.
After takeoff, the aircraft disappeared from radar over the Atlantic Ocean without sending a distress call.
Despite extensive search efforts by several nations, no confirmed wreckage or survivors were found.
The disappearance remains unsolved, with theories ranging from catastrophic mechanical failure to piracy or hijacking.
The incident highlights the challenges of long-range overwater flights and led operators to improve emergency beacon systems and tracking.
1990
Faucett
disappears
1991day.year
Continental Express Flight 2574 crashes in Colorado County, Texas, near Eagle Lake, killing 11 passengers and three crew.
Continental Express Flight 2574 crashed near Eagle Lake, Texas, killing all 14 aboard and leading to major safety reforms.
On September 11, 1991, Continental Express Flight 2574, operated by an Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprop, departed Laredo International Airport for Houston Intercontinental Airport.
During its approach, the aircraft broke apart midair over Colorado County, near Eagle Lake, Texas.
All 11 passengers and three crew members were killed when the left horizontal stabilizer separated from the fuselage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined improper maintenance led to missing fasteners and inadequate inspection practices.
As a result, airlines worldwide revised maintenance protocols, inspection procedures, and oversight regulations to enhance flight safety.
1991
Continental Express Flight 2574
Colorado County, Texas
Eagle Lake