January 29 in history — What Happened Today in History
Curious what January 29 in history holds? From 2025 back through the centuries, our timeline gathers everything that happened on January 29 — events, birthdays and deaths on one cozy page.
On this page, January 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 January 29 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on January 29 in History 37
- 2025
American Eagle Flight 5342 collided mid-air with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk operated by the United States Army and crashed into the Potomac River, killing all 67 people on board both aircraft.
- 2025
A chartered Beechcraft 1900 crashes near the Unity oilfield in South Sudan, killing 20 people.
- 2022
Canadian truck drivers and pedestrians gathered to rally and protest on Parliament Hill against Canadian COVID-19 restrictions, which caused traffic and closures around the city.
- 2020
A plinth breaks between Coral Edge Station and Riviera Station in Singapore, Coral Edge closes one platform.
- 2017
A gunman opens fire at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City, killing six people and wounding 19 others in a spree shooting.
- 2014
Rojava conflict: The Afrin Canton declares its autonomy from the Syrian Arab Republic.
- 2013
SCAT Airlines Flight 760 crashes near the Kazakh city of Almaty, killing 21 people.
- 2009
Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich is removed from office following his conviction of several corruption charges, including solicitation of personal benefit in exchange for an appointment to the United States Senate as a replacement for then-U.S. president-elect Barack Obama.
- 2008
An Egyptian court rules that people who do not adhere to one of the three government-recognised religions, while not allowed to list any belief outside of those three, are still eligible to receive government identity documents.
- 2005
The first direct commercial flights from mainland China (from Guangzhou) to Taiwan since 1949 arrived in Taipei. Shortly afterwards, a China Airlines flight lands in Beijing.
- 2002
In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush describes "regimes that sponsor terror" as an Axis of evil, in which he includes Iraq, Iran and North Korea.
- 2001
Thousands of student protesters in Indonesia storm parliament and demand that President Abdurrahman Wahid resign due to alleged involvement in corruption scandals.
All entries for January 29（+25）
- 1996
President Jacques Chirac announces a "definitive end" to French nuclear weapons testing.
- 1991
Gulf War: The Battle of Khafji, the first major ground engagement of the war, as well as its deadliest, begins between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
- 1989
Cold War: Hungary establishes diplomatic relations with South Korea, making it the first Eastern Bloc nation to do so.
- 1983
Singapore cable car crash: Panamanian-registered oil rig, Eniwetok, strikes the cables of the Singapore Cable Car system linking the mainland and Sentosa Island, causing two cabins to fall into the water and killing seven people and leaving thirteen others trapped for hours.
- 1973
EgyptAir Flight 741 crashes into the Kyrenia Mountains in Cyprus, killing 37 people.
- 1971
The last of its many UFO sightings is made at Pudasjärvi, Finland.
- 1959
The first Melodifestivalen is held at Cirkus in Stockholm, Sweden.
- 1944
World War II: Approximately 38 people are killed and about a dozen injured when the Polish village of Koniuchy (present-day Kaniūkai, Lithuania) is attacked by Soviet partisan units.
- 1944
World War II: In Bologna, Italy, the Anatomical theatre of the Archiginnasio is completely destroyed in an air-raid.
- 1943
World War II: The first day of the Battle of Rennell Island, USS Chicago (CA-29) is torpedoed and heavily damaged by Japanese bombers.
- 1940
Three trains on the Nishinari Line; present Sakurajima Line, in Osaka, Japan, collide and explode while approaching Ajikawaguchi Station. One hundred and eighty-one people are killed.
- 1936
The first inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame are announced.
- 1918
Ukrainian–Soviet War: The Bolshevik Red Army, on its way to besiege Kyiv, is met by a small group of military students at the Battle of Kruty.
- 1918
Ukrainian–Soviet War: An armed uprising organized by the Bolsheviks in anticipation of the encroaching Red Army begins at the Kiev Arsenal, which will be put down six days later.
- 1911
Mexican Revolution: Mexicali is captured by the Mexican Liberal Party, igniting the Magonista rebellion of 1911.
- 1907
Charles Curtis of Kansas becomes the first Native American U.S. Senator.
- 1891
Liliʻuokalani is proclaimed the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
- 1886
Karl Benz patents the first successful gasoline-driven automobile.
- 1863
The Bear River Massacre: A detachment of California Volunteers led by Colonel Patrick Edward Connor engage the Shoshone at Bear River, Washington Territory, killing hundreds of men, women and children.
- 1861
Kansas is admitted as the 34th U.S. state.
- 1856
Queen Victoria issues a Warrant under the Royal sign-manual that establishes the Victoria Cross to recognise acts of valour by British military personnel during the Crimean War.
- 1850
Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850 to the U.S. Congress.
- 1845
"The Raven" is published in The Evening Mirror in New York, the first publication with the name of the author, Edgar Allan Poe.
- 1819
Stamford Raffles lands on the island of Singapore.
- 1814
War of the Sixth Coalition: France engages Russia and Prussia in the Battle of Brienne.
Famous Birthdays on January 29 in History 25
- 2003
Jarell Quansah, English footballer
- 2001
Lee Dae-hwi, South Korean singer
- 1997
Joel Eriksson Ek, Swedish ice hockey player
- 1997
Jack Roslovic, American ice hockey player
- 1993
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Japanese singer
- 1992
Markel Brown, American basketball player
- 1992
Maxi Kleber, German basketball player
- 1989
Mohamed Abou Gabal, Egyptian footballer
- 1989
Kevin Shattenkirk, American ice hockey player
- 1988
Ayobami Adebayo, Nigerian author
- 1988
Jake Auchincloss, American politician, businessman, and Marine veteran
- 1988
Hank Conger, American baseball player
All entries for January 29（+13）
- 1988
Shay Logan, English footballer
- 1987
José Abreu, Cuban baseball player
- 1987
Alex Avila, American baseball player
- 1987
Jessica Burkhart, American author
- 1987
Vladimír Mihálik, Slovak ice hockey player
- 1986
Chris Bourque, American ice hockey player
- 1986
Thomas Greiss, German ice hockey player
- 1986
Jair Jurrjens, Curaçaoan baseball player
- 1985
Marc Gasol, Spanish basketball player
- 1985
Isabel Lucas, Australian actress and model
- 1985
Rag'n'Bone Man, English singer-songwriter
- 1983
Tim Gleason, American ice hockey player
- 1982
Adam Lambert, American singer, songwriter and actor
Notable Deaths on January 29 in History 25
- 2025
Salwan Momika, Iraqi refugee and anti-Islam activist (born 1986)
- 2025
Richard Williamson, British Catholic traditionalist bishop (born 1940)
- 2025
Victims in the 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision:
- 2023
Hazel McCallion, Canadian businesswoman and politician, 5th Mayor of Mississauga (born 1921)
- 2023
Will Steffen, American-Australian chemist (born 1947)
- 2023
Gero Storjohann, German politician (born 1958)
- 2022
Howard Hesseman, American actor (born 1940)
- 2021
Walker Boone, Canadian actor (born 1944)
- 2019
George Fernandes, Indian politician (born 1930)
- 2019
James Ingram, American musician (born 1952)
- 2016
Jean-Marie Doré, Guinean lawyer and politician, 11th Prime Minister of Guinea (born 1938)
- 2016
Jacques Rivette, French director, screenwriter, and critic (born 1928)
All entries for January 29（+13）
- 2015
Colleen McCullough, Australian neuroscientist, author, and academic (born 1937)
- 2015
Rod McKuen, American singer-songwriter and poet (born 1933)
- 2015
Alexander Vraciu, American commander and pilot (born 1918)
- 2012
Ranjit Singh Dyal, Indian general and politician, 10th Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry (born 1928)
- 2012
Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, Italian lawyer and politician, 9th President of Italy (born 1918)
- 2012
Camilla Williams, American soprano and educator (born 1919)
- 2011
Milton Babbitt, American composer, educator, and theorist (born 1916)
- 2009
Hélio Gracie, Brazilian martial artist (born 1913)
- 2009
John Martyn, British singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1948)
- 2008
Margaret Truman, American singer and author (born 1924)
- 2006
Nam June Paik, South Korean-American artist (born 1932)
- 2005
Ephraim Kishon, Israeli author, screenwriter, and director (born 1924)
- 2004
Janet Frame, New Zealand author and poet (born 1924)
That is the story of January 29 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on January 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 January 29 in history?
The biggest event on January 29 in history is: 2025 — American Eagle Flight 5342 collided mid-air with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk operated by the United States Army and crashed into the Potomac River, killing all 67 people on board both aircraft.. In total, 37 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on January 29?
25 famous people were born on January 29 in history, the best known being 2003 — Jarell Quansah, English footballer.
Who died on January 29?
25 notable people died on January 29 in history, including 2025 — Salwan Momika, Iraqi refugee and anti-Islam activist (born 1986).
Why should I read about January 29 in history?
Exploring January 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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