1492day.year
The carrack Santa María, commanded by Christopher Columbus, runs onto a reef off Haiti due to an improper watch.
On December 25, 1492, Christopher Columbus’s flagship Santa María ran aground off the coast of present-day Haiti, forcing its abandonment.
During his first voyage across the Atlantic, Columbus navigated the Santa María along the northern coast of Hispaniola.
On Christmas Day, the vessel struck a reef due to a failure in maintaining a proper watch.
The ship was damaged beyond repair, and its timbers were used to build a makeshift fort called La Navidad.
Columbus left a small garrison behind before returning to Spain in the Nina and the Pinta.
The loss of the Santa María illustrated the perils of early naval exploration and the challenges of commanding uncharted waters.
1492
carrack
Santa María
Christopher Columbus
reef
Haiti
watch
1932day.year
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Gansu, China kills 275 people.
A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Gansu province on December 25, 1932, resulting in widespread damage and over 275 fatalities.
Late on Christmas Day 1932, a catastrophic quake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale rocked northwestern Gansu province.
Villages near the epicenter were flattened as adobe homes collapsed, leaving survivors trapped beneath rubble.
Rescue efforts were hampered by aftershocks, cold winter weather, and limited transportation infrastructure.
Local authorities and volunteers mounted relief operations, but remote communities suffered delays in aid and medical care.
The quake highlighted China’s vulnerability to seismic hazards and prompted improvements in building practices.
Memorials in the affected towns honor those lost and remind future generations of the event’s human toll.
1932
magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Gansu, China
1976day.year
EgyptAir Flight 864, a Boeing 707-366C, crashes on approach to Don Mueang International Airport, killing 71 people.
On December 25, 1976, EgyptAir Flight 864, a Boeing 707-366C, crashed on approach to Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, killing all 71 people on board.
Flight 864 was en route from Colombo to Bangkok when it encountered difficulties during its final approach to Don Mueang Airport. Investigations cited pilot miscommunication and adverse weather as contributing factors. The crash killed 71 passengers and crew, marking one of EgyptAir's deadliest accidents. Rescue teams faced challenging conditions at the crash site, which was located in dense jungle terrain. The tragedy prompted reviews of both EgyptAir's training protocols and international flight safety procedures. Don Mueang Airport later implemented new approach guidelines to prevent similar disasters.
1976
EgyptAir Flight 864
Boeing 707-366C
Don Mueang International Airport
1986day.year
Iraqi Airways Flight 163, a Boeing 737-270C, is hijacked and crashes in Arar, Saudi Arabia, killing 63 people.
On December 25, 1986, Iraqi Airways Flight 163 was hijacked and crashed in Saudi Arabia, resulting in the loss of all 63 on board.
On Christmas Day 1986, Iraqi Airways Flight 163 departed Baghdad when hijackers seized control of the Boeing 737-270C. The aircraft veered off course and crashed near Arar in northern Saudi Arabia. All passengers and crew aboard perished upon impact. Investigators were unable to conclusively determine the hijackers' motives, though regional tensions were high at the time. This tragic event remains one of the deadliest hijack-related disasters of the 1980s and underscored vulnerabilities in aviation security.
1986
Iraqi Airways Flight 163
Boeing 737-270C
Arar, Saudi Arabia
1999day.year
Cubana de Aviación Flight 310, a Yakovlev Yak-42, crashes near Bejuma, Carabobo State, Venezuela, killing 22 people.
Cubana de Aviación Flight 310 crashed on December 25, 1999, near Bejuma in Venezuela, resulting in 22 fatalities.
On Christmas Day 1999, Cubana de Aviación Flight 310, operated with a Yakovlev Yak-42 aircraft, crashed during its final approach to Bejuma in Carabobo State, Venezuela. The flight encountered poor weather conditions, leading to a sudden loss of altitude. All 22 passengers and crew members aboard were killed in the accident. Venezuelan aviation authorities cited adverse weather and potential pilot disorientation as contributing factors. The tragedy prompted renewed calls for improved instrument landing systems at regional airports and enhanced pilot training for challenging approaches.
1999
Cubana de Aviación Flight 310
Yakovlev Yak-42
Bejuma
Carabobo State
2003day.year
UTA Flight 141, a Boeing 727-223, crashes at the Cotonou Airport in Benin, killing 141 people.
On December 25, 2003, UTA Flight 141 crashed while landing at Cotonou Airport in Benin, with 141 fatalities.
On Christmas Day 2003, UTA Flight 141, a Boeing 727-223 arriving from Beirut, overshot the runway at Cotonou Airport in Benin and collided with equipment. Of the 160 people on board, 141 were killed, marking one of the deadliest aviation disasters in West Africa. Survivors recounted a loud bang before impact and darkness inside the cabin. Investigators pointed to poor runway conditions, limited visibility, and possible technical failures. The accident led Benin to invest in upgraded runway lights, enhanced air traffic control, and stricter safety audits for international flights.
2003
UTA Flight 141
Boeing 727-223
Cotonou Airport
Benin
2012day.year
An Antonov An-72 plane crashes close to the city of Shymkent, killing 27 people.
An Antonov An-72 cargo aircraft crashed near Shymkent, Kazakhstan on December 25, 2012, killing all 27 on board.
On Christmas Day 2012, an Antonov An-72 transport plane delivering aid to remote regions encountered severe winter weather during its landing approach to Shymkent, Kazakhstan. The aircraft skidded off the icy runway and crashed, killing all 27 crew members. Poor visibility and frozen surfaces were identified as major factors. Emergency responders faced challenges reaching the remote crash site amid heavy snow. The incident prompted Kazakhstan to review and upgrade its airport winter operations protocols and crew training for cold-weather landings.
2012
Antonov An-72
crashes
Shymkent
2012day.year
Air Bagan Flight 011, a Fokker 100, crashes on approach to Heho Airport in Heho, Myanmar, killing two people.
Air Bagan Flight 011 crashed near Heho Airport in Myanmar on December 25, 2012, resulting in two fatalities.
On Christmas Day 2012, Air Bagan Flight 011, a Fokker 100 passenger jet, was on approach to Heho Airport in Myanmar's mountainous Shan State. The aircraft encountered strong crosswinds and low clouds, causing it to clip trees before coming to rest in a rice paddy. Of the 33 passengers and crew onboard, two lost their lives and many were injured. Local authorities cited challenging weather conditions and difficult terrain as primary causes. The crash led to improved pilot training for mountain airport operations and the installation of better approach navigation aids.
Air Bagan Flight 011
Fokker 100
Heho Airport
Heho
Myanmar
2016day.year
A Russian Defence Ministry Tupolev Tu-154 carrying members of the Alexandrov Ensemble crashes into the Black Sea shortly after takeoff, killing all 92 people on board.
A Russian Defence Ministry Tupolev Tu-154 carrying the Alexandrov Ensemble crashed into the Black Sea shortly after takeoff, killing all 92 people on board.
On December 25, 2016, a Tupolev Tu-154 belonging to the Russian Defence Ministry took off from Sochi International Airport carrying the renowned Alexandrov Ensemble and its support staff.
Shortly after departure, the aircraft plunged into the Black Sea under circumstances that remain under investigation.
All 92 servicemen, including musicians, dancers, and journalists, tragically lost their lives in the crash.
The Alexandrov Ensemble, also known as the Red Army Choir, was en route to perform for Russian troops in Syria.
The incident prompted nationwide mourning across Russia and spurred renewed calls for improved military aviation safety measures.
2016
Russian Defence Ministry
Tupolev Tu-154
Alexandrov Ensemble
crashes
Black Sea
2019day.year
Twenty people are killed and thousands are left homeless by Typhoon Phanfone in the Philippines.
Typhoon Phanfone struck the Philippines on December 25, 2019, killing 20 people and leaving thousands homeless.
On December 25, 2019, Typhoon Phanfone made landfall in the central Philippines as a powerful tropical storm.
The typhoon brought torrential rains and destructive winds to several islands, including Leyte and Samar.
At least 20 people lost their lives, and thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed by flooding and landslides.
Local authorities evacuated vulnerable communities ahead of the storm, but relief efforts were hampered by damaged roads and power outages.
The Philippine government declared a state of calamity in affected regions to expedite aid and reconstruction.
2019
Typhoon Phanfone
Philippines
2020day.year
An explosion in Nashville, Tennessee, occurs, leaving three civilians in the hospital.
An explosion in downtown Nashville, Tennessee on December 25, 2020 left three civilians hospitalized and caused significant damage.
On Christmas morning 2020, a powerful explosion detonated in Nashville’s downtown business district.
Shattered glass and debris littered the streets as emergency crews rushed to the scene.
Three civilians were hospitalized with injuries and received immediate medical attention.
Law enforcement secured the area and commenced a thorough investigation into the blast’s origin.
The incident disrupted holiday celebrations and underscored the need for heightened urban safety protocols.
2020
explosion in Nashville, Tennessee
2024day.year
Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crashes in Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 of its occupants.
Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan on December 25, 2024, killing all 38 people on board.
On December 25, 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crashed near the airport in Aktau, Kazakhstan, during its final approach.
All 38 individuals on board tragically lost their lives in the incident.
Emergency responders worked through the night to secure the crash site and recover victims.
An official investigation was immediately launched to determine whether adverse weather, technical malfunction, or other factors contributed to the disaster.
The crash reverberated through the aviation community and sparked discussions on enhancing flight safety measures in the region.
2024
Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243
Aktau
Kazakhstan