December 29 in history — What Happened Today in History
December 29 in history is full of turning points. This page walks you through what happened on December 29 in history, who was born on December 29 and who passed away on December 29, so nothing about this day slips past you.
On this page, December 29 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about December 29 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on December 29 in History 33
- 2024
Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashes into a wall in Muan, South Korea, killing 179 of the 181 occupants. It is the worst aircraft accident on South Korean soil in history.
- 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
A suicide bomb attack at the Volgograd-1 railway station in the southern Russian city of Volgograd kills at least 18 people and wounds 40 others.
- 2013
Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher suffers a massive head injury while skiing in the French Alps.
- 2012
A Tupolev Tu-204 airliner crashes in a ditch between the airport fence and the M3 highway after overshooting a runway at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, Russia, killing five people and leaving three others critically injured.
- 2006
The UK settles its Anglo-American loan, post-WWII loan debt.
- 2003
The last known speaker of Akkala Sami dies, rendering the language extinct.
- 1998
Leaders of the Khmer Rouge apologize for the Cambodian genocide that claimed over one million lives.
- 1996
Guatemala and leaders of Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity sign a peace accord ending a 36-year civil war.
- 1994
Turkish Airlines Flight 278 (a Boeing 737-400) crashes on approach to Van Ferit Melen Airport in Van, Turkey, killing 57 of the 76 people on board.
- 1992
Fernando Collor de Mello, president of Brazil, tries to resign amidst corruption charges, but is then impeached.
All entries for December 29（+21）
- 1989
Czech writer, philosopher and dissident Václav Havel is elected the first post-communist President of Czechoslovakia.
- 1989
The 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.
- 1975
A bomb explodes at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, killing 11 people and injuring more than 75.
- 1972
Eastern 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.
- 1940
World War II: in the Second Great Fire of London, the Luftwaffe fire-bombs London, England, killing almost 200 civilians.
- 1937
The Irish Free State is replaced by a new state called Ireland with the adoption of a new constitution.
- 1934
Japan renounces the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 and the London Naval Treaty of 1930.
- 1930
Sir Muhammad Iqbal's presidential address in Allahabad introduces the two-nation theory and outlines a vision for the creation of Pakistan.
- 1913
Cecil B. DeMille starts filming Hollywood's first feature film, The Squaw Man.
- 1911
Mongolia gains independence from the Qing dynasty, enthroning 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu as Khagan of Mongolia.
- 1890
Wounded Knee Massacre: On Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, 300 Lakota are killed by the United States 7th Cavalry Regiment.
- 1876
The Ashtabula River railroad disaster occurs, leaving 64 injured and 92 dead at Ashtabula, Ohio.
- 1874
The 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.
- 1862
American 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.
- 1860
The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of screw propeller, iron hull and iron armour, renders all previous warships obsolete.
- 1845
The United States annexes the Republic of Texas and admits it as the 28th state.
- 1835
The Treaty of New Echota is signed, ceding all the lands of the Cherokee east of the Mississippi River to the United States.
- 1812
USS Constitution, under the command of Captain William Bainbridge, captures HMS Java off the coast of Brazil after a three-hour battle.
- 1778
American 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.
- 1607
According to John Smith, Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan leader Wahunsenacawh, successfully pleads for his life after tribal leaders attempt to execute him.
- 1503
The Battle of Garigliano was fought between a Spanish army under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba and a French army commanded by Ludovico II, Marquess of Saluzzo.
Famous Birthdays on December 29 in History 25
- 2006
Ethan Mbappé, French footballer
- 2005
Davide Bartesaghi, Italian footballer
- 2000
Orkun Kökçü, Dutch-Turkish footballer
- 2000
Julio Rodríguez, Dominican baseball player
- 2000
Eliot Vassamillet, Belgian singer
- 1999
Andreas Skov Olsen, Danish footballer
- 1999
Francisco Trincão, Portuguese footballer
- 1998
Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, American actor
- 1998
Victor Osimhen, Nigerian footballer
- 1998
Brandon Thomas-Asante, Ghanaian footballer
- 1997
Felix Keisinger, German skeleton racer
- 1996
Sana Minatozaki, Japanese singer
All entries for December 29（+13）
- 1996
Dylan Minnette, American actor, musician and singer
- 1995
Myles Garrett, American football player
- 1995
Rina Ikoma, Japanese singer and actress (Nogizaka46 and AKB48)
- 1995
Ross Lynch, American singer and actor
- 1994
Kristel Fulgar, Filipino actress
- 1994
Princess Kako of Akishino, Japanese princess
- 1993
Travis Head, Australian cricketer
- 1993
Gabby May, Canadian artistic gymnast
- 1992
Mislav Oršić, Croatian footballer
- 1992
Katsuhiro Suzuki, Japanese actor and model
- 1991
Steven Caulker, English footballer
- 1991
Patrick Feeney, American sprinter
- 1990
Allen Kim, South Korean singer, dancer, and actor (U-KISS)
Notable Deaths on December 29 in History 25
- 2024
Aaron Brown, American journalist and academic (born 1948)
- 2024
Jimmy Carter, American politician, 39th President of the United States (born 1924)
- 2024
Linda Lavin, American actress and singer (born 1937)
- 2024
Tomiko Itooka, Japanese supercentenarian (born 1908)
- 2023
Gil de Ferran, French-born Brazilian racing driver, CART champion (2000, 2001), 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner (born 1967)
- 2022
Pelé, Brazilian footballer (born 1940)
- 2022
Edgar Savisaar, Estonian politician, Estonian Minister of the Interior (born 1950)
- 2022
Vivienne Westwood, English fashion designer (born 1941)
- 2021
Peter Klatzow, South African composer (born 1945)
- 2020
Pierre Cardin, Italian-French fashion designer (born 1922)
- 2020
Joe Louis Clark, American educator (born 1937)
- 2020
Alexi Laiho, Finnish singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1979)
All entries for December 29（+13）
- 2019
Alasdair Gray, Scottish writer and artist (born 1934)
- 2019
Neil Innes, English writer, comedian and musician (born 1944)
- 2018
Brian Garfield, American novelist, historian and screenwriter (born 1939)
- 2018
Rosenda Monteros, Mexican actress (born 1935)
- 2017
Peggy Cummins, Irish actress (born 1925)
- 2017
John C. Portman Jr., American neofuturistic architect and real estate developer (born 1924)
- 2016
Keion Carpenter, American football defensive back (born 1977)
- 2016
LaVell Edwards, American football head coach (born 1930)
- 2015
Om Prakash Malhotra, Indian general and politician, 25th Governor of Punjab (born 1922)
- 2015
Pavel Srníček, Czech footballer and coach (born 1968)
- 2015
Kim Yang-gon, North Korean politician (born 1942)
- 2014
Syed Hamid, Indian academic and diplomat (born 1920)
- 2014
Hari Harilela, Indian-Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist (born 1922)
That is the story of December 29 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on December 29 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on December 29 in history?
The biggest event on December 29 in history is: 2024 — Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashes into a wall in Muan, South Korea, killing 179 of the 181 occupants. It is the worst aircraft accident on South Korean soil in history.. In total, 33 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on December 29?
25 famous people were born on December 29 in history, the best known being 2006 — Ethan Mbappé, French footballer.
Who died on December 29?
25 notable people died on December 29 in history, including 2024 — Aaron Brown, American journalist and academic (born 1948).
Why should I read about December 29 in history?
Exploring December 29 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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