In the early hours of 3 December 1984, something at the pesticide factory in Bhopal went wrong. Pipes began shaking and concrete cracked. Suddenly, lethal methyl-iso-cyanide smoke spewed out of the chimney. Between 16,000 and 30,000 people choked as the cloud of toxic gas blanketed Bhopal. A simple cleaning operation led to the worst industrial disaster ever.
On the night of July 17 1996, TWA Flight 800, a Boeing 747 carrying 230 people took-off from New York, headed for Paris. But only 12 minutes into the flight, Flight 800 suddenly exploded from underneath, causing the nose to fall off the aircraft. The rest of TWA 800 rose up in flames for a few seconds until falling from the sky in pieces into the Atlantic. All 230 people onboard died. Did the fuel tank explode? Was it a bomb? Rumours spread that the plane was shot down by the US military, creating the biggest crash investigation ever.
Lava bulge opened by earthquake, volcanic eruption
Mount St. Helens was a peaceful volcano for 123 years with its breath-taking scenery until a massive eruption blew the top off the mountain. A giant avalanche of ash and rock hurled down the mountain. Lahars swept nearby rivers and 57 tourists and scientists perished. What caused this sleeping giant to erupt so violently?
In 1994, at the San Marino Grand Prix track, famous racer Ayrton Senna was competing in his racing vehicle. Suddenly, during a turn, the car lost control and slamed into the circuit limits. Senna's car broke into pieces. A wheel hits the racer's head, killing him instantly. Why did the car crash in the first place?
Enemy aircraft bombing, failed intercept of HMS Broadway
During the 1982 Falklands War (Malvinas War by the Argentinians), two British warships, HMS Coventry and HMS Broadway, prepared for battle. An attack force of Argentinian aircraft arrived. HMS Broadway tried to intercept the attack, but it was too late. The Argentinian aircraft bombed the Coventry's deck and the ship sank. Why was the Coventry not more damage-resistent? Why were the ships unable to detect the fighter-bombers until it was too late?
During the 1993 Royal International Air Tattoo, two warplanes were flying some acrobatic moves in front of spectators, when something went wrong and the aeroplanes collided and fell from the sky. Both pilots ejected from the planes before crashing. What caused this near catastrophe?
