Today in News History

On June 21, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1764, Sidney Smith, English admiral and politician (died 1840) was born. In 1813, Peninsular War: Wellington defeats Joseph Bonaparte at the Battle of Vitoria. In 1889, Ralph Craig, American sprinter and sailor (died 1972) was born. In 1951, Mona-Lisa Pursiainen, Finnish sprinter (died 2000) was born. In 1970, Penn Central declares Section 77 bankruptcy in what was the largest U.S. corporate bankruptcy to date. In 1985, Braathens SAFE Flight 139 is hijacked on approach to Oslo Airport, Fornebu. Special forces arrest the hijacker and there are no fatalities. In 2005, Edgar Ray Killen, who had previously been unsuccessfully tried for the murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Mickey Schwerner, is convicted of manslaughter 41 years afterwards (the case had been reopened in 2004). In 2006, A Yeti Airlines de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter crashes at Jumla Airport in Nepal, killing nine people. In 2012, A boat carrying more than 200 migrants capsizes in the Indian Ocean between the Indonesian island of Java and Christmas Island, killing 17 people and leaving 70 others missing. In 2012, An Indonesian Air Force Fokker F27 Friendship crashes near Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, killing 11. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.