On This Day in History — September 29

Highlights of September 29

• 2006 — Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907 collided in mid-air with an Embraer Legacy business jet near Peixoto de Azevedo, Brazil, killing 154 people and triggering a national aviation crisis. Read more
• 2005 — John Roberts became the 17th Chief Justice of the United States; he would be the first Chief Justice to serve for twenty years since Melville Fuller in 1908. Read more
• 2004 — Archaeologists and volunteers began excavation of the remains of Fort Tanjong Katong in Singapore. Read more
• 1991 — The award-winning Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast premiered while unfinished at the New York Film Festival. Read more
• 1990 — The Lockheed YF-22, the prototype for the F-22 Raptor, made its first flight. Read more
• 1964 — Mafalda, a popular comic strip by Quino, was first published in newspapers in Argentina. Read more
• 1963 — The University of East Anglia (coat of arms featured) was founded in Norwich, England, after talk of establishing a university in the city began as early as the 19th century. Read more
• 1957 — An explosion at the Soviet nuclear reprocessing plant Mayak released 74 to 1,850 PBq of radioactive material. Read more
• 1955 — The first Indonesian legislative election resulted in an unexpectedly poor result for the Masyumi Party of incumbent prime minister Burhanuddin Harahap (pictured). Read more
• 1954 — Willie Mays (pictured) of the New York Giants made The Catch, one of the most famous defensive plays in the history of Major League Baseball. Read more
• 1941 — The Holocaust: Nazi forces, aided by Ukrainian collaborators, began a massacre of Jews in a ravine in Kyiv, killing more than 30,000 civilians in two days and thousands more in the following months. Read more
• 1940 — During a Royal Australian Air Force training exercise over Brocklesby, two planes collided and interlocked in mid-air (pictured); the pilot of the upper plane was able to land safely using the lower plane's engines. Read more
• 1923 — The Mandate for Palestine came into effect, officially creating the protectorates of Mandatory Palestine under British administration and Transjordan as a separate emirate under King Abdullah I. Read more
• 1918 — World War I: The Battle of St Quentin Canal took place, which led to the British Fourth Army making the first breach of the German defensive Hindenburg Line. Read more
• 1833 — The Spanish American wars of independence ended with the death of King Ferdinand VII, with what had once been the Spanish Empire disintegrating into independent Latin American states. Read more
• 1760 — The Williamsburg Bray School, the oldest-surviving school building in the U.S. dedicated to educating Black children, opened at Benjamin Franklin's suggestion. Read more
• 1726 — Johann Sebastian Bach led the first performance of Es erhub sich ein Streit, a cantata for Michaelmas. Read more
• 1724 — J. S. Bach led the first performance of Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir, BWV 130, based on Paul Eber's hymn in twelve stanzas, for the feast of archangel Michael. Read more
• 1011 — An army of Viking pirates that had besieged the English city of Canterbury for weeks took Archbishop Ælfheah prisoner and seized power. Read more

Events

• 2019 — Violence and low turnout mar the 2019 Afghan presidential election. Read more
• 2016 — Eleven days after the Uri attack, the Indian Army conducts "surgical strikes" against suspected militants in Pakistani-administered Kashmir. Read more
• 2013 — Over 42 people are killed by members of Boko Haram at the College of Agriculture in Nigeria. Read more
• 2011 — The special court in India convicted all 269 accused officials for atrocity on Dalits and 17 for rape in the Vachathi case. Read more
• 2009 — The 8.1 Mw Samoa earthquake results in a tsunami that kills over 189 and injures hundreds. Read more
• 2008 — The stock market crashes with the Dow Jones dropping a then record 778 points after the United States House of Representatives vote on the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act fails during the beginning stages of the Great Recession. Read more
• 2007 — Calder Hall, the world's first commercial nuclear power station, is demolished in a controlled explosion. Read more
• 2006 — A Boeing 737 and an Embraer 600 collide in mid-air, killing 154 people and triggering a Brazilian aviation crisis. Read more
• 2005 — John Roberts is confirmed as Chief Justice of the United States. Read more
• 2004 — The asteroid 4179 Toutatis passes within four lunar distances of Earth. Read more
• 2004 — Burt Rutan's Ansari SpaceShipOne performs a successful spaceflight, the first of two required to win the Ansari X Prize. Read more
• 1992 — Brazilian President Fernando Collor de Mello is impeached. Read more
• 1991 — A Haitian coup d'état occurs. Read more
• 1990 — Construction of the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (better known as Washington National Cathedral) is completed in Washington, D.C. Read more
• 1990 — The YF-22, which would later become the F-22 Raptor, flies for the first time. Read more
• 1990 — The Tampere Hall, the largest concert and congress center in the Nordic countries, is inaugurated in Tampere, Finland. Read more
• 1988 — NASA launches STS-26, the first Space Shuttle mission since the Challenger disaster. Read more
• 1981 — An Iranian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft crashes into a firing range near Kahrizak, Iran, killing 80 people. Read more
• 1979 — Equatorial Guinean dictator Francisco Macías Nguema is executed by soldiers from Western Sahara. Read more
• 1975 — WGPR becomes the first black-owned-and-operated television station in the US. Read more
• 1972 — Japan establishes diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China after breaking official ties with the Republic of China. Read more
• 1971 — Oman joins the Arab League. Read more
• 1959 — A Lockheed L-188 Electra crashes in Buffalo, Texas, killing 34 people. Read more
• 1957 — The Kyshtym disaster is the third-worst nuclear accident ever recorded. Read more
• 1954 — The convention establishing CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) is signed. Read more
• 1941 — During World War II, German forces, with the aid of local Ukrainian collaborators, begin the two-day Babi Yar massacre. Read more
• 1940 — Two Avro Ansons collide in mid-air over New South Wales, Australia, remain locked together, then land safely. Read more
• 1932 — Last day of the Battle of Boquerón between Paraguay and Bolivia during the Chaco War. Read more
• 1923 — The Mandate for Palestine takes effect, creating Mandatory Palestine. Read more
• 1923 — The Mandate for Syria and Lebanon takes effect. Read more
• 1923 — The First American Track and Field championships for women are held. Read more
• 1920 — Ukrainian War of Independence: The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic agree to a truce with the Makhnovshchina. Read more
• 1918 — World War I: Bulgaria signs the Armistice of Salonica ending its participation. Read more
• 1918 — World War I: The Hindenburg Line is broken by an Allied attack. Read more
• 1918 — World War I: Germany's Supreme Army Command tells Kaiser Wilhelm II and Imperial Chancellor Georg Michaelis to open negotiations for an armistice to end the war. Read more
• 1911 — Italy declares war on the Ottoman Empire, In this war , Italy gains Libya which ends Ottoman rule in North Africa . Read more
• 1907 — The cornerstone is laid at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (better known as Washington National Cathedral) in Washington, D.C. Read more
• 1885 — The first practical public electric tramway in the world is opened in Blackpool, England. Read more
• 1864 — The Battle of Chaffin's Farm is fought in the American Civil War. Read more
• 1864 — The Treaty of Lisbon defines the boundaries between Spain and Portugal and abolishes the Couto Misto microstate. Read more
• 1855 — The Philippine port of Iloilo is opened to world trade by the Spanish administration. Read more
• 1850 — The papal bull Universalis Ecclesiae restores the Roman Catholic hierarchy in England and Wales. Read more
• 1848 — The Battle of Pákozd is a stalemate between Hungarian and Croatian forces and is the first battle of the Hungarian Revolution. Read more
• 1829 — The Metropolitan Police of London, later also known as the Met, is founded. Read more
• 1789 — The United States Department of War first establishes a regular army with a strength of several hundred men. Read more
• 1726 — J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Es erhub sich ein Streit, BWV 130, for the feast of Michael, the archangel. Read more
• 1724 — J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir, BWV 130 for the feast of archangel Michael, based on Paul Eber's hymn in twelve stanzas. Read more
• 1717 — An earthquake strikes Antigua Guatemala, destroying much of the city's architecture. Read more
• 1714 — The Cossacks of the Tsardom of Russia kill about 800 people overnight in Hailuoto during the Great Wrath. Read more
• 1669 — Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki is crowned king following the 1669 Polish–Lithuanian royal election. Read more
• 1578 — Tegucigalpa, capital city of Honduras, is claimed by the Spaniards. Read more
• 1567 — During the French War of Religion, Protestant coup officials in Nîmes massacre Catholic priests in an event now known as the Michelade. Read more
• 1364 — During the Hundred Years' War, Anglo-Breton forces defeat the Franco-Breton army in Brittany, ending the War of the Breton Succession. Read more
• 1267 — The Treaty of Montgomery recognises Llywelyn ap Gruffudd as Prince of Wales, but only as a vassal of King Henry III. Read more
• 1227 — Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, is excommunicated by Pope Gregory IX for his failure to participate in the Crusades during the Investiture Controversy. Read more
• 1011 — Danes capture Canterbury after a siege, taking Ælfheah, archbishop of Canterbury, as a prisoner. Read more
• 855 — Pope Benedict III is restored by a popular uprising to the papacy after king Louis II of Italy tried to replace him with his favourite candidate. Read more
• 440 — Consecration of pope Leo I, later called Leo the Great, following the death of pope Sixtus III in the month before. Read more
• 61 BC — Pompey the Great celebrates his third triumph for victories over the pirates and the end of the Mithridatic Wars on his 45th birthday. Read more

Born on September 29

• 2000 — Jaden McDaniels, American basketball player Read more
• 1999 — Choi Ye-na, South Korean singer and dancer Read more
• 1995 — Julien Baker, American singer-songwriter Read more
• 1995 — Abhijeet Dipke, Indian satirical politician Read more
• 1995 — Sasha Lane, American actress Read more
• 1994 — Halsey, American singer Read more
• 1994 — Nicholas Galitzine, English actor Read more
• 1993 — Enxhi Seli-Zacharias, German politician Read more
• 1991 — Souleymane Doukara, French footballer Read more
• 1990 — Jordan Schroeder, American ice hockey player Read more
• 1989 — Shyima Hall, Egyptian human rights activist Read more
• 1988 — Kevin Durant, American basketball player Read more
• 1987 — Josh Farro, American musician Read more
• 1986 — Inika McPherson, American track and field athlete Read more
• 1985 — Calvin Johnson, American football player Read more
• 1985 — Michelle Payne, Australian jockey Read more
• 1984 — Per Mertesacker, German footballer Read more
• 1983 — Ryan Garry, English footballer and coach Read more
• 1981 — Kelly McCreary, American actress Read more
• 1981 — Suzanne Shaw, English actress and singer Read more
• 1980 — Dallas Green, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
• 1980 — Zachary Levi, American actor and singer Read more
• 1980 — Chrissy Metz, American actress Read more
• 1978 — Kurt Nilsen, Norwegian singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
• 1978 — Neville Roach, English footballer Read more
• 1978 — Nathan West, American actor, musician, and singer Read more
• 1977 — Heath Bell, American baseball player Read more
• 1976 — Darren Byfield, English-Jamaican footballer Read more
• 1976 — Kelvin Davis, English footballer Read more
• 1975 — Stephanie Klein, American author Read more
• 1974 — Alexis Cruz, American actor Read more
• 1974 — Dedric Ward, American football wide receiver Read more
• 1973 — Alfie Boe, English tenor and actor Read more
• 1972 — Jörgen Jönsson, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
• 1972 — Robert Webb, English comedian, actor and writer Read more
• 1971 — Joanna Brooks, American author and professor Read more
• 1971 — Ray Buchanan, American football player Read more
• 1971 — Mackenzie Crook, English actor and screenwriter Read more
• 1971 — Theodore Shapiro, American composer Read more
• 1970 — Natasha Gregson Wagner, American actress Read more

Died on September 29

• 2025 — Patrick Murray, British actor (born 1956) Read more
• 2025 — Alan McDonald, Scottish Church Minister (born 1951) Read more
• 2024 — Ozzie Virgil Sr., Dominican baseball player and coach (born 1932) Read more
• 2022 — Kathleen Booth, British computer scientist and mathematician (born 1922) Read more
• 2022 — Akissi Kouamé, Ivorian army officer (born 1955) Read more
• 2020 — Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti Emir (born 1929) Read more
• 2020 — Helen Reddy, Australian-American singer, actress, and activist (born 1941) Read more
• 2019 — Martin Bernheimer, German-American music critic (born 1936) Read more
• 2018 — Otis Rush, American blues guitarist and singer (born 1934) Read more
• 2017 — Tom Alter, Indian actor (born 1950) Read more
• 2016 — Miriam Defensor Santiago, Filipina politician (born 1945) Read more
• 2015 — Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabian prince (born 1932) Read more
• 2015 — Hellmuth Karasek, Czech-German journalist, author, and critic (born 1934) Read more
• 2015 — Phil Woods, American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader (born 1931) Read more
• 2014 — Mary Cadogan, English author (born 1928) Read more
• 2014 — John Ritchie, New Zealand composer and educator (born 1921) Read more
• 2013 — Harold Agnew, American physicist and engineer (born 1921) Read more
• 2013 — S. N. Goenka, Indian teacher of Vipassanā meditation (born 1924) Read more
• 2013 — Marcella Hazan, Italian cooking writer (born 1924) Read more
• 2012 — Neil Smith, Scottish geographer and academic (born 1954) Read more
• 2012 — Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, American publisher (born 1926) Read more
• 2012 — Malcolm Wicks, English academic and politician (born 1947) Read more
• 2011 — Sylvia Robinson, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1936) Read more
• 2010 — Tony Curtis, American actor (born 1925) Read more
• 2010 — Greg Giraldo, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter (born 1965) Read more
• 2008 — Hayden Carruth, American poet and critic (born 1921) Read more
• 2007 — Lois Maxwell, Canadian actress (born 1927) Read more
• 2007 — Katsuko Saruhashi, Japanese geochemist (born 1920) Read more
• 2006 — Walter Hadlee, New Zealand cricketer and manager (born 1915) Read more
• 2006 — Michael A. Monsoor, American sailor, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1981) Read more
• 2006 — Louis-Albert Vachon, Canadian cardinal (born 1912) Read more
• 2005 — Patrick Caulfield, English painter and academic (born 1936) Read more
• 2005 — Austin Leslie, American chef and author (born 1934) Read more
• 2004 — Richard Sainct, French motorcycle racer (born 1970) Read more
• 2004 — Patrick Wormald, English historian (born 1947) Read more
• 2001 — Mabel Fairbanks, American figure skater and coach (born 1915) Read more
• 2001 — Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, South Vietnamese military officer and politician, 2nd President of South Vietnam (born 1923) Read more
• 2000 — John Grant, English journalist and politician (born 1932) Read more
• 1999 — Edward William O'Rourke, American bishop (born 1917) Read more
• 1998 — Tom Bradley, American lieutenant and politician, 38th Mayor of Los Angeles (born 1917) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Charles, Duke of Brittany; Christian feast day: Cyriacus the Anchorite; Christian feast day: Hripsime; Christian feast day: Blessed Francesc de Paula Castelló Aleu; Christian feast day: Guillaume Courtet; Christian feast day: Jean de Montmirail; Christian feast day: John of Dukla; Christian feast day: René Goupil; Christian feast day: Theodota of Philippi; Christian feast day: September 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Christian feast day: the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. One of the four quarter days in the Irish calendar. (England and Ireland). Called Michaelmas in some western liturgical traditions.; Inventors' Day (Argentina); Victory of Boquerón Day (Paraguay)

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