September 9 in history — What Happened Today in History

Tajikistan declares independence from the Soviet Union.

Batticaloa massacre: Massacre of 184 Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan Army in Batticaloa District.

Vietnam Airlines Flight 831 crashes in Khu Khot, Thailand, while on approach to Don Muang International Airport, killing 76.

Two Aeroflot flights collide in mid-air over Anapa, Soviet Union, killing 70.

In Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park, a Cave Research Foundation exploration and mapping team discovers a link between the Mammoth and Flint Ridge cave systems, making it the longest known cave passageway in the world.

The four-day Attica Prison riot begins, eventually resulting in 39 dead, most killed by state troopers retaking the prison.

A British airliner is hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and flown to Dawson's Field in Jordan.

In Canada, the Official Languages Act comes into force, making French equal to English throughout the Federal government.

Allegheny Airlines Flight 863 collides in mid-air with a Piper PA-28 Cherokee over Moral Township, Shelby County, Indiana, killing all 83 people on board both aircraft.

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act is signed into law by U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development is established.

Hurricane Betsy makes its second landfall near New Orleans, leaving 76 dead and $1.42 billion ($10–12 billion in 2005 dollars) in damages, becoming the first hurricane to cause over $1 billion in unadjusted damage.

Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time.

The 6.7 Mw Chlef earthquake shakes northern Algeria with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme). At least 1,243 people were killed and 5,000 were injured.

Kim Il Sung is appointed as premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). This is celebrated annually as its national holiday.

World War II and Second Sino-Japanese War: The Empire of Japan formally surrenders to China.

World War II: The Fatherland Front takes power in Bulgaria through a military coup in the capital and armed rebellion in the country. A new pro-Soviet government is established.

World War II: The Allies land at Salerno and Taranto, Italy.

World War II: A Japanese floatplane drops incendiary bombs on Oregon.

George Stibitz pioneers the first remote operation of a computer.

Treznea Massacre in Transylvania.

World War II: The Battle of Hel begins, the longest-defended pocket of Polish Army resistance during the German invasion of Poland.

Burmese national hero U Ottama dies in prison after a hunger strike to protest Britain's colonial government.

The crews of Portuguese Navy frigate NRP Afonso de Albuquerque and destroyer Dão mutiny against the Salazar dictatorship's support of General Franco's coup and declare their solidarity with the Spanish Republic.

Yleisradio (YLE), the Finnish national public broadcasting company, begins its broadcasts.

Hanapepe massacre occurs on Kauai, Hawaii.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, founds the Republican People's Party.

The Greco-Turkish War effectively ends with Turkish victory over the Greeks in Smyrna.

Kelsey Asbille, American actress

Lauren Daigle, American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter

Hunter Hayes, American singer-songwriter and guitarist

Oscar, Brazilian footballer

Danilo Pereira, Bissauan-Portuguese footballer

Billy Hamilton, American baseball player

Shaun Johnson, New Zealand rugby league player

Haley Reinhart, American singer-songwriter and actress

Andrew Smith, American basketball player (died 2016)

Jordan Tabor, English footballer (died 2014)

Alfonzo Dennard, American football player

Casey Hayward, American football player

Danilo D'Ambrosio, Italian footballer

Saul Landau, American journalist, director, and author (born 1936)

Verghese Kurien, Indian engineer and businessman, founded Amul (born 1921)

John McCarthy, Australian footballer (born 1989)

Mike Scarry, American football player and coach (born 1920)

Ron Tindall, English footballer and manager (born 1935)

Gérard Brach, French director and screenwriter (born 1927)

Richard Burmer, American composer and engineer (born 1955)

Matt Gadsby, English footballer (born 1979)

William Bernard Ziff Jr., American businessman, founded Ziff Davis (born 1930)

Ernie Ball, American guitarist and businessman (born 1930)

Caitlin Clarke, American actress (born 1952)

Edward Teller, Hungarian-American physicist and academic (born 1908)

Don Willesee, Australian telegraphist and politician, 29th Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs (born 1916)