1849day.year
Boilers of the steamboat Louisiana explode as she pulls back from the dock in New Orleans, killing more than 150 people.
The boilers of the steamboat Louisiana explode in New Orleans in 1849, killing over 150 passengers and highlighting the dangers of early steam travel.
On November 15, 1849, the steamboat Louisiana suffered a catastrophic boiler explosion as it pulled away from a New Orleans dock. The blast destroyed the vessel’s midsection, sending debris and scalding steam across the crowded riverfront. More than 150 people lost their lives, making it one of the deadliest steamship disasters of the era. Public outrage prompted calls for stricter safety regulations on river vessels. This tragedy accelerated the development of improved boiler designs and inspection protocols. Steamboat accidents were common but rarely produced such high casualty numbers. The Louisiana disaster remains a sobering reminder of the perils of 19th-century transportation. It played a crucial role in shaping maritime safety standards.
1849
Boilers
Louisiana
New Orleans
1928day.year
The RNLI lifeboat Mary Stanford capsizes in Rye Harbour with the loss of the entire 17-man crew.
The RNLI lifeboat Mary Stanford capsized during a rescue mission in Rye Harbour, tragically claiming the lives of all 17 crew members.
On 15 November 1928, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Mary Stanford was launched to aid a vessel in distress off Rye Harbour.
Heavy seas and strong currents battered the lifeboat, causing it to capsize shortly after launch.
Despite the crew's bravery and experience, all 17 volunteer lifeboatmen were lost in the disaster.
The tragedy had a profound impact on the small fishing community, highlighting the perils faced by volunteer rescuers.
An inquiry reviewed lifeboat design and safety protocols, leading to improvements in future vessels.
Memorials in Rye Harbour honor the courage and sacrifice of the Mary Stanford's crew.
1928
RNLI
Mary Stanford
Rye Harbour
1957day.year
Short Solent 3 crashes near Chessell.
A Short Solent 3 flying boat crashes near Chessell, leading to tragic loss of life in a peacetime aviation disaster.
On November 15, 1957, a Short Solent 3 operated by Aquila Airways crashed in the vicinity of Chessell, Isle of Wight.
The flying boat encountered mechanical issues shortly after takeoff, forcing an emergency descent.
The accident resulted in multiple fatalities and shocked the aviation community.
Investigators sought to determine the cause, focusing on engine failure and structural integrity.
The disaster prompted reviews of flying boat safety standards and maintenance procedures.
It remains one of the notable civil aviation tragedies of the 1950s.
1957
crashes
Chessell
1967day.year
The only fatality of the North American X-15 program occurs during the 191st flight when Air Force test pilot Michael J. Adams loses control of his aircraft which is destroyed mid-air over the Mojave Desert.
Test pilot Michael J. Adams perishes in a devastating X-15 crash during the program’s 191st flight over the Mojave Desert.
On November 15, 1967, Air Force pilot Michael J. Adams lost control of the North American X-15 rocket plane during its 191st flight.
The aircraft disintegrated mid-air, and Adams was tragically killed in the first—and only—fatal accident of the X-15 program.
The X-15 was a cutting-edge hypersonic research vehicle designed to explore flight at the edge of space.
Adams’s death prompted a thorough investigation into flight dynamics, control systems, and pilot physiological factors.
Lessons learned from the accident influenced safety protocols for later high-speed and spaceflight programs.
The incident remains a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in pioneering aerospace research.
1967
North American X-15
191st flight
Michael J. Adams
Mojave Desert
1978day.year
A chartered Douglas DC-8 crashes near Colombo, Sri Lanka, killing 183.
A chartered Douglas DC-8 crashed near Colombo, Sri Lanka, killing all 183 people on board.
On November 15, 1978, a chartered Douglas DC-8 en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka, crashed shortly after takeoff.
The aircraft experienced technical difficulties that led it to deviate from its intended flight path and impact terrain near the runway.
All 183 passengers and crew on board were killed in what became one of Sri Lanka's deadliest aviation disasters.
Emergency responders and investigators cited mechanical failure and challenging weather conditions as likely contributors.
The tragedy prompted airlines and regulators to enhance safety inspections and pilot training for older jet aircraft.
1978
Douglas DC-8
crashes
Colombo
Sri Lanka
1979day.year
A package from Unabomber Ted Kaczynski begins smoking in the cargo hold of a flight from Chicago to Washington, D.C., forcing the plane to make an emergency landing.
A package sent by the Unabomber began smoking in the cargo hold of a flight from Chicago to Washington, D.C., forcing an emergency landing.
On November 15, 1979, a parcel mailed by Ted Kaczynski, later known as the Unabomber, started emitting smoke in the cargo hold of a commercial flight.
The flight, operating between Chicago and Washington, D.C., was diverted for an emergency landing to protect the safety of passengers and crew.
No one was injured, but the incident heightened fears about domestic extremist threats to aviation security.
The discovery of suspect packages aboard flights triggered new protocols for cargo screening and bomb detection.
This event was an early sign of the Unabomber's long campaign against modern technology and institutions.
1979
Ted Kaczynski
a flight
Chicago
Washington, D.C.
1985day.year
A research assistant is injured when a package from the Unabomber addressed to a University of Michigan professor explodes.
A parcel from the Unabomber exploded at the University of Michigan, injuring a research assistant.
On November 15, 1985, a package sent by Ted Kaczynski to a University of Michigan professor detonated upon opening in a campus office.
A research assistant suffered injuries to the hands in the explosion but survived after receiving prompt medical attention.
The attack was part of the Unabomber's nationwide letter-bomb campaign targeting academics and technologists.
This incident prompted universities to implement stricter mail screening procedures and emergency response plans.
The Unabomber's actions would continue for years before his eventual capture in 1996.
1985
Unabomber
University of Michigan
1987day.year
Continental Airlines Flight 1713 crashes during takeoff from Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado, killing 25.
Continental Airlines Flight 1713 crashed on takeoff from Denver's Stapleton Airport in a snowstorm, killing 25 people.
On November 15, 1987, Continental Airlines Flight 1713 attempted to depart from Stapleton International Airport amid heavy snowfall.
Ice accumulation on the wings and a miscommunication about takeoff clearance contributed to the aircraft losing lift.
The Convair CV-580 skidded off the runway and broke apart, resulting in 25 fatalities and multiple injuries.
Investigators cited pilot error and inadequate de-icing procedures as key factors in the tragedy.
The crash led to improvements in airline safety standards and ground de-icing protocols across the industry.
Continental Airlines Flight 1713
Stapleton International Airport
Denver
1994day.year
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hits the central Philippine island of Mindoro, killing 78 people, injuring 430 and triggering a tsunami up to 8.5 m (28 ft) high.
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Mindoro, Philippines, triggering a tsunami that devastated coastal communities.
On November 15, 1994, a major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 hit the central Philippine island of Mindoro.
The tremor caused widespread structural damage, collapsing homes and infrastructure in multiple towns.
A resulting tsunami with waves up to 8.5 meters swept ashore, compounding the disaster's human and economic toll.
Rescue operations faced challenges due to disrupted roads and communication networks.
The tragedy prompted enhancements in the Philippines' seismic monitoring and coastal warning systems.
1994
magnitude 7.1 earthquake
Mindoro
2000day.year
A chartered Antonov An-24 crashes after takeoff from Luanda, Angola, killing more than 40 people.
An Antonov An-24 charter flight crashed after takeoff from Luanda, Angola, in 2000, killing over 40 people.
On November 15, 2000, a chartered Antonov An-24 departed Luanda's airport carrying passengers and cargo.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft suffered an engine failure and lost altitude over populated areas.
The plane crashed into a residential neighborhood, resulting in more than 40 fatalities and significant property damage.
Poor maintenance standards and regulatory oversight were cited as contributing factors in investigations.
The accident remains one of the deadliest aviation incidents in Angola's history.
2000
Antonov An-24
crashes
Luanda
Angola
2007day.year
Cyclone Sidr hits Bangladesh, killing an estimated 5,000 people and destroying parts of the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans.
Cyclone Sidr devastates Bangladesh, causing massive loss of life and environmental destruction.
On November 15, 2007, Cyclone Sidr made landfall in Bangladesh, unleashing catastrophic winds and storm surges.
The powerful cyclone killed an estimated 5,000 people and displaced millions.
It devastated homes, crops, and infrastructure across the coastal regions.
The storm also severely damaged the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest.
The environmental impact raised concerns over coastal ecosystem resilience.
International relief efforts mobilized to provide food, shelter, and medical aid to survivors.
2007
Cyclone Sidr
Bangladesh
mangrove
Sundarbans
2017day.year
A flood a few miles outside of Athens results in the death of 25 people.
Flash floods near Athens claim 25 lives as heavy rains trigger deadly inundations.
On November 15, 2017, severe floods struck areas a few miles outside Athens, Greece.
Heavy rainfall caused river banks to overflow, inundating homes and roads.
The disaster resulted in the deaths of 25 people and widespread property damage.
Emergency services conducted large-scale rescue and relief operations.
The floods highlighted vulnerabilities in local infrastructure to extreme weather.
Officials called for improved flood prevention measures to mitigate future risks.
2017
flood
Athens