On This Day: 29 December

29 December in world history

• 2024Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashed at Muan International Airport while attempting to perform a belly-landing after losing engine thrust to a flock of Baikal teal.
• 2023South Africa files a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over Israeli conducts in the Gaza Strip.
• 2020A magnitude 6.4 earthquake hits near the town of Petrinja in Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia, killing seven people.
• 2013Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher suffers a massive head injury while skiing in the French Alps.
• 1989The Nikkei 225 for the Tokyo Stock Exchange hits its all-time intra-day high of 38,957.44 and closing high at 38,915.87, serving as the apex of the Japanese asset price bubble.
• 1972Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 (a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar) crashes in the Florida Everglades on approach to Miami International Airport, Florida, killing 101 of the 176 people on board.
• 1959American physicist Richard Feynman gave a speech entitled "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom" at Caltech, anticipating the field of nanotechnology.
• 1940Second World War: The Luftwaffe began a major night bombing raid on the British capital as part of the Blitz, beginning what was later called the "Second Great Fire of London".
• 1928The Northern Expedition, a military campaign by the National Revolutionary Army of the Kuomintang, ended with the complete control of the Republic of China.
• 1911Mongolia gains independence from the Qing dynasty, enthroning 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu as Khagan of Mongolia.
• 1890Sioux Wars: The United States Army killed 250 to 300 Lakota men, women and children at the Wounded Knee Massacre, beginning the Ghost Dance War.
• 1876A railway bridge collapsed over the Ashtabula River in Ohio, killing 92 people and injuring 64 others on a Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway train.
• 1874The military coup of Gen. Martinez Campos in Sagunto ends the failed First Spanish Republic and the monarchy is restored as Prince Alfonso is proclaimed King of Spain.
• 1862American Civil War: The Battle of Chickasaw Bayou ends in a Union defeat as forces under General William T. Sherman are repulsed with heavy losses by Confederate troops under General John C. Pemberton.
• 1860To counter the French Navy's Gloire, the world's first ironclad warship, the Royal Navy launched HMS Warrior, the world's first iron-hulled armoured warship.
• 1845The Republic of Texas was annexed by the United States, becoming the 28th state to be admitted to the Union.
• 1812USS Constitution, under the command of Captain William Bainbridge, captures HMS Java off the coast of Brazil after a three-hour battle.
• 1778American Revolutionary War: British forces under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell defeat American forces under Major General Robert Howe and capture the port city of Savannah, Georgia.

Born on 29 December

• 1995Rina Ikoma, Japanese singer and actress (Nogizaka46 and AKB48)
• 1987Juliana Huxtable, American artist
• 1974Twinkle Khanna, Indian actress and writerIndia
• 1942Rajesh Khanna, Indian actor (died 2012)India
• 1914Zainul Abedin, Bangladeshi painter and academic (died 1976)
• 1844Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee, Indian barrister and first president of Indian National Congress (died 1906)India

Died on 29 December

• 2015Om Prakash Malhotra, Indian general and politician, 25th Governor of Punjab (born 1922)India
• 2013Jagadish Mohanty, Indian author and translator (born 1951)India
• 1929Edward Christopher Williams, American librarian (born 1871)
• 1919William Osler, Canadian physician and professor (born 1849)

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 29 December in history?

2024: Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashed at Muan International Airport while attempting to perform a belly-landing after losing engine thrust to a flock of Baikal teal. 2023: South Africa files a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over Israeli conducts in the Gaza Strip. 2020: A magnitude 6.4 earthquake hits near the town of Petrinja in Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia, killing seven people. 2013: Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher suffers a massive head injury while skiing in the French Alps.

Which famous people were born on 29 December?

Rina Ikoma, Japanese singer and actress (Nogizaka46 and AKB48) (1995); Juliana Huxtable, American artist (1987); Twinkle Khanna, Indian actress and writer (1974); Rajesh Khanna, Indian actor (died 2012) (1942).

Which day is observed on 29 December?

Constitution Day (Ireland); Independence Day (Mongolia); The fifth day of Christmas (Western Christianity); The fourth day of Kwanzaa (United States).