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There may be a festive atmosphere in the air, but the Christmas headlines don’t slow down. The elements wreak havoc in the Shetland Islands as heavy snowfall leaves communities isolated, while devastating tsunami levels begin to emerge across Asia. The controversy continues after the public breakdown of the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Hollywood is mourning one of its own princesses over the death of Carrie Fisher. Elsewhere, air travel takes a dangerous turn, from the Lockerbie bombing to the dramatic release of hostages following the attack of a hijacked jet in Marseille. Explore a dramatic week of news, as seen IndependentHome page of.
22 December 1988 – Lockerbie bombing
Wreckage is scattered across Lockerbie after Pan Am Flight 103 disintegrates in mid-air, killing all 259 people on board and 11 people on the ground. The disaster gave rise to one of the largest criminal investigations of its time, which would later focus on a bomb placed in the plane’s possession and lead to years of diplomatic and legal disputes over responsibility.
22 December 1989 – Uprising in Bucharest
Street fighting has broken out in Bucharest as protests against Nicolae Ceausescu’s regime escalate, with security forces and soldiers opening fire on protesters and tanks moving through the city. At least 20 people were reported killed as the uprising marked a turning point in Romania’s anti-communist insurgency, which would lead to the fall of the regime a few days later.
24 December 1991 – Gorbachev handed over power
It’s Christmas Eve 1991, and Independent Details the final days of Mikhail Gorbachev’s leadership after the Soviet Union effectively disintegrated. He spends about eight hours in the Kremlin negotiating with Russian leader Boris Yeltsin over the transfer of authority, including control of the nuclear arsenal, as responsibility is handed to the leaders of the newly formed Commonwealth of Independent States.
27 December 1994 – Marseille kidnapping
Passengers have been freed after French security forces stormed a hijacked Air France jet at Marseille airport, ending a tense standoff that began in Algiers days earlier. All 170 people on board the plane were rescued alive as commandos killed the hijackers in a cockpit gun battle, bringing a dramatic end to the crisis.
22 December 1995 – The Prince of Wales rules out remarriage
Prince Charles has laid out his future as monarch by announcing he will not remarry following his divorce from Princess Diana, trying to draw a line under the breakdown of the marriage. Independent The Queen’s move to file for divorce comes amid growing royal tensions, including Diana’s refusal to spend Christmas at Sandringham, the report said.
December 26, 1995 – The Pope fell ill during a Christmas blessing.
Pope John Paul II cut short his traditional Christmas blessing from St. Peter’s Square and addressed crowds gathered at the Vatican after appearing weak and suffering from a fever. “I’m sorry, but I can’t move on,” he tells his followers. The episode raised concerns about the Pope’s health, although the Vatican later downplayed fears and said he was resting after an illness.
27 December 1995 – State of emergency in the Shetland Islands
A state of emergency has been declared in the Shetland Islands after a fierce ice storm left thousands without power and cut off roads and transport links. The storm is one of the worst to hit the islands in years, and emergency services have been stepped up as efforts to restore power and supplies continue.
December 27, 2004 – Tsunami devastates Asia
A powerful earthquake off the coast of Sumatra causes a tsunami that devastates coastal areas of the Indian Ocean, with initial reports putting the death toll at around 12,300. The scale of the disaster later became clear as the number of victims increased dramatically, eventually reaching more than 200,000 confirmed deaths in several countries.
December 28, 2016 – Hollywood lost a princess
Actor and writer Carrie Fisher has died at the age of 60 after falling ill during a transatlantic flight, prompting tributes from across the film industry and beyond. Known for her role as Princess Leia in star warsFisher is also remembered for her candid writings on fame, addiction, and mental health.
