Summary of the Day ✨ 18 June (18/06)
A deep-sea tragedy unfolded as the Titan submersible imploded during a Titanic expedition, killing all five occupants including CEO Stockton Rush, while a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck northern Osaka. Meanwhile, space exploration advanced with the launch of NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Kazakhstan’s first satellite KazSat-1, though disaster struck closer to home when nine firefighters lost their lives in the Charleston Sofa Super Store fire.
Historical Events 📜
- 2023: Titan, a submersible operated by OceanGate Expeditions, imploded while attempting to view the wreck of the Titanic, killing all five people on board including OceanGate co-founder and CEO Stockton Rush in the North Atlantic Ocean.
- 2018: An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 strikes northern Osaka.
- 2009: The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), a NASA robotic spacecraft is launched.
- 2007: The Charleston Sofa Super Store fire happened in Charleston, South Carolina, killing nine firefighters.
- 2006: The first Kazakh space satellite, KazSat-1 is launched.
- 1998: Propair Flight 420 crashes near Montréal–Mirabel International Airport in Quebec, Canada, killing 11.
- 1994: The Troubles: Members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) attack a crowded pub with assault rifles in Loughinisland, Northern Ireland. Six Catholic civilians are killed and five wounded. It was crowded with people watching the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
- 1984: A major clash between about 5,000 police and a similar number of striking miners takes place at Orgreave, South Yorkshire, during the 1984–85 UK miners’ strike.
- 1983: Space Shuttle program: STS-7, Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space.
- 1983: Mona Mahmudnizhad, together with nine other women of the Baháʼí Faith, is sentenced to death and hanged in Shiraz, Iran over her religious beliefs.
- 1982: Italian banker Roberto Calvi’s body is discovered hanging beneath Blackfriars Bridge in London, England.
- 1981: The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, the first operational aircraft initially designed around stealth technology, makes its first flight.
- 1979: SALT II is signed by the United States and the Soviet Union.
- 1972: Staines air disaster: One hundred eighteen people are killed when a BEA H.S. Trident crashes minutes after takeoff from London’s Heathrow Airport.
- 1965: Vietnam War: The United States Air Force uses B-52 bombers to attack guerrilla fighters in South Vietnam.
Famous Births 👶
- 1999: Choi Ye-won, South Korean singer and actress
- 1999: Trippie Redd, American rapper
- 1997: Katharina Hobgarski, German tennis player
- 1997: Latrell Mitchell, Australian rugby league player
- 1996: Alen Halilović, Croatian footballer
- 1996: Niki Wories, Dutch figure skater
- 1995: Maxim Kovtun, Russian figure skater
- 1994: Sean McMahon, Australian rugby player
- 1994: Takeoff, American rapper (died 2022)
- 1993: Dennis Lloyd, Israeli musician, producer, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist
- 1990: Luke Adam, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1990: Sandra Izbașa, Romanian gymnast
- 1990: Derek Stepan, American ice hockey player
- 1990: Christian Taylor, American triple jumper
- 1989: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, French-born Gabonese footballer
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2024: James Chance, American musician (born 1953)
- 2024: Anouk Aimée, French actress (born 1932)
- 2024: Yoyong Martirez, Filipino basketball player (born 1946)
- 2024: Willie Mays, American baseball player (born 1931)
- 2023: Notable victims of the Titan submersible implosion:
- 2023: Notable victims of the Titan submersible implosion:
- 2023: Notable victims of the Titan submersible implosion:
- 2023: Notable victims of the Titan submersible implosion:
- 2022: Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, Danish politician, minister of foreign affairs (born 1941)
- 2022: Adibah Noor, Malaysian actress, singer, master of ceremonies (born 1970)
- 2020: Vera Lynn, English singer who was the “Forces’ Sweetheart” in World War II (born 1917)
- 2018: XXXTentacion, American rapper (born 1998)
- 2018: Big Van Vader (also known as Vader) American professional wrestler (born 1955)
- 2018: Jimmy Wopo, American rapper (born 1997)
- 2016: Jeppiaar, Indian educationist, founder and chancellor of Sathyabama University (born 1931)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Autistic Pride Day (International)
- Christian feast day:
Bernard Mizeki (Anglican and Episcopal Church) - Christian feast day:
Elisabeth of Schönau - Christian feast day:
Gregorio Barbarigo - Christian feast day:
Leontius, Hypatius and Theodulus - Christian feast day:
Marina the Monk (Maronite Church, Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria) - Christian feast day:
Mark and Marcellian - Christian feast day:
June 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - Foundation Day (Benguet)
- Human Rights Day (Azerbaijan)
- National Day (Seychelles)
- Queen Mother’s Birthday (Cambodia)
- Waterloo Day (United Kingdom)