On this date: 1990 - Unusual Aviation Incident

On this date in 1990, the captain of British Airways Flight 5390 was partially sucked out of the aircraft when the windshield of the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) One-Eleven 528FL blew out  as the aircraft was climbing through ~17,000 feet while en route to Málaga, Spain out of Birmingham, England. The aircraft was carrying 87 passengers and crew. The wind shield had been replaced after the prior flight however the securing bolts failed under the cabin pressure. 

Capt. Tim Lancaster and his crew - Source: http://goo.gl/hXQot

Coming to rest on the nose cone, Captain Tim Lancaster, severely injured, was restrained by crew members who held on to his ankles until the first officer landed aircraft ~15 minutes later. The captain and crew members who rescued him suffered frost bite, and various traumatic injuries. Captain Lancaster returned to service, retired from British Airways, and was flying for EastJet as of 2005. 

The shift manager of the maintenance facility was held accountable for failure to use proper and standard practices in installing the new wind shield. 

Sources
http://goo.gl/A0v7n
http://goo.gl/K5zz8

--

Steven Kuhr

Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History

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On this day: 2002 - Asteroid Explosion

On this day in 2002, an asteroid entered the earth's atmosphere and exploded over the Mediterranean Sea near the nations of Greece and Lybia.  The event is known as the Eastern Mediterranean Event. The object, said to be ~10 meters in diameter, exploded in mid-air with the explosive equivalent of 26 kilotons of TNT which is similar to a small nuclear weapon. The object approached and entered the atmosphere undetected. The object completely disintegrated therefore no debris was recovered and no crater was formed as it exploded above the surface. There were no apparent injuries, social impact, or impact in critical infrastructure. 

Note: Limited information is available on this event. Comments and input are greatly encouraged.

Sources
http://goo.gl/S5Hrv
http://goo.gl/xvruc

--
Steven Kuhr
Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History
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On this day: 1985 - Multi-Regional Tornado Disaster

On this day in 1985 a massive international, multi-regional tornado outbreak occurred wreaking havoc in both the United States and Canada. Forty-one (41) tornadoes struck northern Ohio, western Pennsylvania. and southern Ontario resulting in 76 fatalities. Among the storms were an F5  tornado and six F4 tornadoes. The F5 tornado struck Trumbull County, Ohio. An F4 tornado, considered the worst of this event, touched down in the area of Jamestown, Pennsylvania. It traveled 56 miles killing 23 and destroying hundreds of homes and other properties.

Photos: http://goo.gl/3HybW

Sources
http://goo.gl/3VQqm
http://goo.gl/3HybW
http://goo.gl/gx1PE
http://goo.gl/RIlQV

--
Steven Kuhr
Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History
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On this day: 1985 - Stadium Collapse

On this day in 1985 a civil disturbance led to the partial collapse of the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium resulting in 39 fatalities and 600 casualties. The stadium was host to the European Cup Final football game between rival teams from the United Kingdom and Italy. Rioting broke out and fans breached a barrier resulted in a scenario where a mass of individuals were crushed against a wall. The wall ultimately failed and collapsed. The incident was capture on video. After the disaster there were claims of insufficient crowd control measures. The stadium was criticized for being an unsuitable venue for a sports event of this magnitude.  

Source http://goo.gl/0PmVI

Sources
http://goo.gl/rdgdU
http://goo.gl/ya1wm

--

Steven Kuhr

Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History

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On this day: 1919 - Volcano

On this day in Disaster History, the Mount Kelut Volcano in Indonesia erupted resulting in over 5,000 fatalities from a resulting lava flood which overtook more than 100 villages. The volcano was of the type that existed below the surface of what appeared to be a crater. Mount Kelut is periodically active having erupted again in 1990 and then again in 2007. Today ~350,000 people reside within six (6) miles of the volcano.

Mt Kelut Source http://goo.gl/d0wFR

Sources
http://goo.gl/TEQi7
http://goo.gl/Y3RsP

--

Steven Kuhr

Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History

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On this day: 1980 - Mount St. Helens

On this day in 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted in the State of Washington. The event began as a 5.1 magnitude earthquake which caused the collapse of the north facing wall of the mountain which resulted in an avalanche and subsequent explosion of pressurized volcanic gasses. The incident resulted in 57 fatalities attributed to asphyxiation, burns, and trauma. In the wake of the volcano approximately 150 square miles of forest was destroyed. 

Source: http://goo.gl/GqZD8

Sources
http://goo.gl/Nc9A7
http://goo.gl/CpTWX

--

Steven Kuhr

Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History

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On this day: 1974 Car Bombings

On this day in 1974, a paramilitary loyalist group in Northern Ireland known as the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), detonated a number of Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (Car Bombs) in the cities of Dublin and Monaghan. The attacks resulted in ~33 fatalities and ~258 casualties. The goal of the UVF was to maintain Northern Ireland's union with Great Britain. 

Source: http://goo.gl/8EA9M

Sources
http://goo.gl/X0pf1
http://goo.gl/P4ciS

--

Steven Kuhr

Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History

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On this day: 1874 - Flood Disaster

On this day in 1874, a dam burst in Mill River, Massachusetts resulting in the release of the Williamsburg Reservoir. The ensuing catastrophic flood destroyed four downstream villages resulted in 139 fatalities. This incident is said to be the first major dam disaster in the United States and one of the most significant technological disasters of 19th century America. The break was attributed to faulty construction. In the aftermath of the flood, Massachusetts and other northeast states passed dam safety laws.

Source: UMass http://goo.gl/I6TGX

                                                      

Source: Wood Museum of Springfield History via Disasters in  the Valley http://goo.gl/EOKLM

Sources
Disasters in the Valley - http://goo.gl/EPuHK
UMass - http://goo.gl/f2Lak

--

Steven Kuhr

Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History

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On this day: 1974 - Terrorist Attack

On this day in 1974 a terrorist attack known as the Ma'alot Massacre occurred in the Israeli city of Ma'alot, located seven miles from the Israel/Lebanon border. Approximately 100 teenagers were at school when it was overtaken by by Palestinian terrorists. The incident resulted in a 12 hour hostage situation which led to the deaths of between 16 and 26 teenagers (sources vary) and 64 casualties when terrorists attacked the hostages with firearms and hand grenades during a rescue operation by Israeli commandos. At least 15 adults and children successfully escaped.

            A victim of the Ma'alot attack is being rescued after a grenade lands next to her. (Courtesy Their Eyes Were Dry) 
            http://goo.gl/cwuKl

Sources
http://goo.gl/cwuKl
http://goo.gl/Y2fuL

--

Steven Kuhr

Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History

skuhr.blogspot.com
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On this day: 1996 Air Crash

On this day in disaster history, ValuJet Flight 592 departed from Miami International Airport (MIA), en route to Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport (ATL), carrying many passengers traveling for Mother's Day. The aircraft, a McDonnell-Douglass DC-9-32, powered by two Pratt and Whitney JT8D-9A engines, showing 105 passengers and five crew members on its manifest, crashed shortly after departure in the Florida Everglades killing all souls on board. Shortly after departure the crew contacted departure control and reported an electrical problem and the "loss of everything". Shouts were heard in the background stating that there was smoke and fire in the cabin. During the investigation, while examining the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), a flight attendant was recorded as saying "completely on fire".  The crash was attributed to a fire whichb began in the cargo hold when one or more improperly labelled and improperly stored oxygen generators activated. ValuJet emerged after the accident as AirTran which was acquired by Southwest Airlines in 2011.

                                            Phote: dailypress.com http://goo.gl/x88Mc

Sources
http://goo.gl/rTVF6
http://goo.gl/mVb8p
http://goo.gl/7cGzU
http://goo.gl/G7UzX

Steven Kuhr
Disaster History
disasterhx.blogspot.com
skuhr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/emnexus
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Welcome to Disaster History, a Blog by Steven Kuhr

Welcome to Disaster History a blog by Steven Kuhr. In researching the history of disasters, it became apparent very quickly that disasters in the United States and around the world is both tragic and fascinating. From time to time we will briefly explore disasters by date of occurrence or based on special interest or unusual circumstances.  I encourage and seek input from followers and fellow emergency managers.

Also see Emergency Management Nexus at skuhr.blogspot.com.

Steven Kuhr
Disaster History
disasterhx.blogspot.com