1863day.year
Between two and three thousand churchgoers die during the Church of the Company Fire. Deemed as probably the largest single building fire by number of victims in modern history, it began at the start of a Mass held at the Church of the Society of Jesus in Santiago, Chile, during the celebration of the recently proclaimed Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
A catastrophic fire at Santiago’s Church of the Company during Mass kills thousands, becoming one of the deadliest building fires in history on December 8, 1863.
During a celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a stray firework or spark ignited a blaze at the Church of the Society of Jesus in Santiago, Chile. The heavy wooden structure and barred doors trapped worshippers inside, leading to a rapid spread of flames and suffocating smoke. Estimates place the death toll between two and three thousand, making it one of the worst single-building disasters ever recorded. Survivors described horrific scenes as people attempted to escape through narrow exits. The tragedy prompted reforms in building safety and fire regulations across Chile. Public mourning was widespread, and the event has been memorialized in Chilean history and art. The Church of the Company Fire remains a poignant reminder of the importance of emergency preparedness. Its anniversary continues to be observed in Chilean civic memory.
1863
Church of the Company Fire
Mass
Society of Jesus
Santiago
Chile
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
1963day.year
Pan Am Flight 214, a Boeing 707, is struck by lightning and crashes near Elkton, Maryland, killing all 81 people on board.
Pan Am Flight 214 was struck by lightning during a storm and crashed near Elkton, Maryland, resulting in 81 fatalities.
On December 8, 1963, Pan Am Flight 214, a Boeing 707 traveling from San Juan to Philadelphia via Baltimore, encountered severe thunderstorms. A lightning strike ignited fuel vapors in the wing tank, causing a catastrophic in-flight explosion. The aircraft plummeted into a wooded area near Elkton, Maryland, killing all 81 people on board. It remains one of the deadliest lightning-related aviation accidents in history. The crash led to improvements in aircraft fuel tank safety and revised lightning protection standards. Investigators from the Civil Aeronautics Board identified design vulnerabilities and recommended better grounding and bonding of fuel systems to prevent future incidents.
1963
Pan Am Flight 214
Boeing 707
lightning
Elkton, Maryland
1966day.year
The Greek ship SS Heraklion sinks in a storm in the Aegean Sea, killing over 200.
The Greek ferry SS Heraklion sank in a violent storm in the Aegean Sea, killing over 200 passengers and crew.
On December 8, 1966, during a severe winter storm, the SS Heraklion capsized while sailing between Haifa and Crete. A cargo of military vehicles and lumber became unsecured, shifting the vessel’s center of gravity. The ferry began to list heavily and eventually rolled over and sank rapidly. Rescue efforts were hampered by high seas and freezing temperatures. Only a handful of survivors were rescued from liferafts. The disaster prompted a full inquiry into Greek maritime safety practices and led to new regulations for cargo securing and ship stability. The sinking of the Heraklion remains one of Greece’s worst peacetime maritime disasters.
1966
SS Heraklion
Aegean Sea
1969day.year
Olympic Airways Flight 954 strikes a mountain outside of Keratea, Greece, killing 90 people in the worst crash of a Douglas DC-6 in history.
Olympic Airways Flight 954 crashed into a mountain near Keratea, Greece, killing all 90 people on board.
On December 8, 1969, a Douglas DC-6 operated by Olympic Airways was en route from Athens to Chania when it encountered heavy clouds and poor visibility. While descending toward Athens, the aircraft flew into the side of Mount Paneion near Keratea. All 90 passengers and crew perished in the impact, making it the deadliest accident involving a DC-6. Investigators cited pilot misjudgment and inadequate navigational aids as contributing factors. The crash led to enhancements in Greek air traffic control and mountain approach procedures. Memorials for the victims were erected near the crash site. The tragedy underscored the importance of modernizing aviation safety standards in challenging terrain.
1969
Olympic Airways Flight 954
Douglas DC-6
1972day.year
United Airlines Flight 553, a Boeing 737, crashes after aborting its landing attempt at Chicago Midway International Airport, killing 45. This is the first-ever loss of a Boeing 737.
United Airlines Flight 553 crashed while attempting to land at Chicago Midway, marking the first fatal loss of a Boeing 737.
On December 8, 1972, United Airlines Flight 553, a Boeing 737, was on a routine flight from Washington, D.C., to Denver with a stopover at Chicago Midway. During its descent, the crew encountered issues with the landing gear and aborted the first landing attempt. A subsequent approach was attempted amid worsening weather, but the aircraft stalled and crashed into a residential area. Of the 61 passengers and crew on board, 45 lost their lives, along with two people on the ground. This accident was the first hull loss of the now-ubiquitous Boeing 737. Investigators attributed the crash to pilot error, inadequate crew coordination, and challenging wind conditions. The tragedy led to revisions in crew resource management training and instrument approach procedures. Communities near the crash site hold memorials to honor the victims.
1972
United Airlines Flight 553
Boeing 737
Chicago Midway International Airport
1988day.year
A United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II crashes into an apartment complex in Remscheid, Germany, killing five people and injuring 50 others.
An A-10 Thunderbolt II of the US Air Force crashed into an apartment complex in Remscheid, Germany, killing five people and injuring dozens.
In December 1988, a US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II experienced a critical failure and plummeted into a residential building in Remscheid, West Germany.
The crash destroyed multiple apartments and sparked fires across several floors, trapping residents inside.
Emergency services battled intense flames and rescued survivors from the rubble amid falling debris.
Investigators later attributed the accident to an engine malfunction coupled with low-altitude training protocols.
The tragedy prompted reviews of military flight operations over civilian areas.
Survivors and witnesses recounted harrowing escapes as smoke and chaos enveloped the scene.
The incident remains one of the most devastating peacetime military accidents on German soil.
1988
United States Air Force
A-10 Thunderbolt II
crashes
Remscheid