October 2001

Tuesday 02:

First palindromic MM-DD-YYYY date since August 31, 1380.

Thursday 04:

A Sibir Airlines Tupolev TU-154 crashes into the Black Sea after being struck by an errant Ukrainian S-200 missile. 78 people are killed.

Friday 05:

Tom Ridge resigned as Governor of Pennsylvania to become President Bush's Homeland Security Advisor.

Saturday 06:

The then most-attended ice hockey game in history, between Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, before a crowd of 74,554. In 2004, that record was shattered in a historic outdoor regular season match in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens.

Sunday 07:

Start of U.S. invasion of Afghanistan with an air assault and covert operations on the ground.

Wednesday 10:

US President George W. Bush presents a list of 22 most wanted terrorists.

Thursday 11:

Polaroid Corporation files for federal bankruptcy protection.

Friday 12:

War on Terrorism: Prompted by a request by US President George W. Bush, an episode of America's Most Wanted aired featuring 22 most wanted terrorists

Sunday 14:

2001 - Delta Flight 458 from Atlanta to Newark, New Jersey, is diverted to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, and passengers are taken off the flight while officials investigate a report of two "Middle Eastern men" making threats in a foreign tongue. It turned out to be two Orthodox Jews who were praying peacefully.

Monday 15:

NASA's Galileo spacecraft passes within 112 miles of Jupiter's moon Io.

Tuesday 16:

U.S. invasion of Afghanistan: U.S. warplanes mistakenly bomb International Red Cross warehouse in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Friday 19:

SIEV-X sinks en route to Christmas Island

Tuesday 23:

The Provisional Irish Republican Army of Northern Ireland commences disarmament after peace talks encouraged by American President Bill Clinton.

Thursday 25:

Microsoft releases Windows XP

Friday 26:

The United States passes the controversial USA Patriot Act into law.

Tuesday 30:

Michael Jordan returns to the National Basketball Association with the Washington Wizards after 3 1/2 years (the Wizards lose 93-91 to the New York Knicks).