Key Events in Chicago on May 25

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Historical Events on May 25 in Chicago

On May 25, 1979, American Airlines Flight 191, a DC-10 aircraft, crashed shortly after taking off from O’Hare International Airport. The flight experienced disaster 31 seconds after departure, claiming the lives of 271 people on board and two on the ground. This incident marked the deadliest passenger airline accident on U.S. soil to date.

Historical Weather Records

High temperature: 94 degrees (1911)
Low temperature: 32 degrees (1992)
Precipitation: 2.52 inches (1879)
Snowfall: Trace (1949)

The Green Hornet Disaster

In 1950, a tragic traffic accident occurred when a Green Hornet streetcar collided with a gas truck on State Street near 62nd Street. The accident resulted in 34 fatalities, making it the worst streetcar accident in U.S. history. The streetcar lacked emergency door release mechanisms, contributing to the high death toll.

Ted Kaczynski’s First Bomb

In 1978, Ted Kaczynski, later identified as the ‘Unabomber,’ placed his first known bomb in a University of Illinois Chicago parking lot. The bomb was returned to the address listed on the package by a passerby. A Northwestern University professor, suspicious of the package, handed it over to security, where a public safety officer suffered minor injuries from its explosion.

Spider Dan’s Sears Tower Climb

In 1981, Dan Goodwin, also known as ‘Spider Dan,’ scaled the Sears Tower, then the world’s tallest building. Dressed in a colorful suit and using suction cups, he amazed onlookers as he climbed the building. He was arrested for disorderly conduct upon descent but quickly released. Goodwin later scaled the John Hancock Center the same year.

Fergie Jenkins’ 3,000th Strikeout

Pitcher Fergie Jenkins achieved a significant milestone on May 25, 1982. He became the seventh MLB pitcher to record 3,000 strikeouts during a game where the Chicago Cubs faced a 2-1 loss to San Diego.