Nancy Kerrigan attack
Two-time American Olympic figure-skating medalist Nancy Kerrigan was hit on the leg with a police baton by an assailant hired by the ex-husband of her rival Tonya Harding.
Explore 91 historical moments from 1994 — 28 events, 63 birthdays, and 0 notable deaths.
Two-time American Olympic figure-skating medalist Nancy Kerrigan was hit on the leg with a police baton by an assailant hired by the ex-husband of her rival Tonya Harding.
Edvard Munch's painting The Scream was stolen from the National Gallery of Norway.
Israeli physician Baruch Goldstein opened fire on Palestinian Muslims praying at the Cave of the Patriarchs, killing 29 and wounding 125.
A FedEx employee tried to hijack Federal Express Flight 705 in a failed suicide attempt.
The Rwandan genocide began a few hours after the assassination of President Juvénal Habyarimana, with hundreds of thousands killed in the following 100 days.
At a GATT ministerial meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco, representatives of 123 countries and the European Communities signed an agreement to establish the World Trade Organization.
On April 26, 1994, China Airlines Flight 140 crashed while landing at Nagoya Airport, Japan, killing 264 people due to a copilot error.
Riverdance was performed for the first time as the interval act for the Eurovision Song Contest on April 30, 1994.
American teenager Michael P. Fay was caned in Singapore for theft and vandalism. The United States deemed the punishment excessive for a non-violent crime.
Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first democratically elected President of South Africa.
On May 10, 1994, American serial killer John Wayne Gacy was executed by lethal injection for the murders of twelve young men committed between 1972 and 1978.
The Boeing 777, the world's largest twinjet, made its maiden flight.
During The Troubles, Ulster Volunteer Force members attacked a crowded bar in Loughinisland, Northern Ireland, killing six people.
A bomb explosion in the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Iran, left at least 25 dead and more than 70 injured.
Fragments of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 began colliding with the planet Jupiter. The first impact caused a fireball reaching a peak temperature of 24,000 kelvin.
Brazil won the FIFA World Cup final against Italy 3–2 on penalties following a 0–0 draw after extra time.
USAir Flight 427 crashed on approach to Pittsburgh International Airport on September 8, 1994, resulting in 132 deaths. This led to the longest accident investigation in NTSB history.
The Nordhordland Bridge, Norway's second-longest bridge, officially opened, crossing Salhusfjorden.
Swiss police discovered the bodies of 48 members of the Order of the Solar Temple. The victims had died in a cult mass murder-suicide.
Loyalist leader Gusty Spence announced that the Combined Loyalist Military Command would observe a ceasefire during a meeting at Fernhill House, Belfast.
North Korea and the United States signed the Agreed Framework to limit North Korea's nuclear weapons program and normalize relations.
In Seoul, South Korea, a span of the Seongsu Bridge collapsed, killing 32 people and injuring 17 others.
Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty on October 26, 1994, settling relations between the two countries. They pledged not to allow their territory to be used for military strikes by a third country.
A lightning strike ruptured three oil tanks near Dronka, Egypt, causing a flood that killed 469 people.
On November 20, 1994, the Angolan government signed a ceasefire with UNITA rebels under the Lusaka Protocol. This attempt to end the Angolan Civil War ultimately failed.
Sony launched the PlayStation, a groundbreaking entertainment platform. It became the first console to achieve 100 million unit sales worldwide.
Mexico's Popocatépetl volcano, dormant for 47 years, began erupting and is now one of the nation's most active volcanoes.
Turkish Airlines Flight 278 crashed on approach to Van Ferit Melen Airport in Van, Turkey. 57 of the 76 people on board were killed.
Jung Jae-won, a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, and actor, was born.
Andrew Benintendi, an American professional baseball player, was born.
Nigina Abduraimova, an Uzbekistani professional tennis player, was born.
Astou Ndour-Fall, Senegalese-Spanish basketball player, was born.
Nabil Bentaleb is an Algerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.
Jake T. Austin, an American actor, was born. He is known for his roles in popular television shows and films.
Lil Baby, an American rapper, was born. He has become a prominent figure in contemporary hip-hop music.
Solomone Kata, a New Zealand rugby league player, was born. He has represented his country in international competitions.
Otto Warmbier was an American student imprisoned in North Korea. He died in 2017.
Maudy Ayunda, Indonesian actress and singer-songwriter.
No deaths recorded for 1994.
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