What happened on 17 June?

Look at what happened on this day, 17 June in history. From various achievements and milestones throughout human history to groundbreaking inventions and events that shaped the world we live in today.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day

ON THIS DAY: 17 JUNE

1948 | All 43 occupants of United Airlines Flight 624, a Douglas DC-6, died in the crash in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania.

1972 | Watergate scandal: As part of a larger effort to undermine democracy, members of President Richard M. Nixon’s administration attempted to illegally wiretap the political opposition. Five White House operatives were arrested for breaking into the offices of the Democratic National Committee.

1989 | At Berlin Schönefeld Airport, Interflug Flight 102 attempted a refused takeoff and crashed, killing 21 people.

1991 | The South African Parliament voted to revoke the Apartheid regime’s legal foundation. As many White electors tried to hold on to the privileges granted to them during Apartheid, the vote on 17 June 1991, which removed the legal foundation of Apartheid and started the process that would finally abolish Apartheid in its entirety, was hotly contested.

2021 | President Joe Biden signed Juneteenth National Independence Day into law, making it the first federal holiday declared since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

ALSO READ: What happened on 16 June?

BIRTHDAYS

1953 | First Lady of South Africa, Tshepo Motsepe.

1958 | French rugby player and coach, Pierre Berbizier.

1965 | American speed skater and sportscaster, Dan Jansen.

1970 | English football manager and former professional player, Alan Dowson.

1991 | South African rugby union footballer, Akker van der Merwe.

DEATHS

2000 | South African lawyer and jurist, 17th Chief Justice of South Africa, Ismail Mahomed, 69.

2002 | German footballer, Fritz Walter, 82.

2004 | Canadian ice hockey player, Gerry McNeil, 78.

2014 | English actress, Patsy Byrne, 81.

2017 | President of Vanuatu, Baldwin Lonsdale, 69.

SPORTS

1962 | On this day, World Cup holders Brazil defended their title, beating Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the Final.

ENTERTAINMENT

2008 | The Offspring released “Rise and Fall”, “Rage and Grace” their first album in nearly five years at that time.

AFRICA FACT

The largest villages in Botswana is Kanye.