2003 Rhode Island Nightclub Fire

A Rhode Island nightclub, The Station, was hosting a show by the band Great White when pyrotechnics set off by the tour manager wound up setting fire to highly flammable foam sound insulation in the walls. The fire quickly engulfed the walls and ceiling of the nightclub and claimed the lives of 100 people. In the photograph above, you can see the guitarist take notice of the flames before many others.

Deadly Niagara Falls Ski Jump

Stuntman Robert Overacker was apparently raising awareness for the plight of the homeless when he rode a jet ski over the brink of the Niagara Falls and his parachute failed. He plunged to his death on the waters below, which is as forceful as falling straight onto cement from this height.

He had traveled to the falls two times before to perform the stunt but was dissuaded each time by friends and family. During his last visit, he went to pull off the stunt with the jet ski, which had a sign that said “Save the Homeless” on the back, as his brother Michael Zureich photographed the whole incident.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17

On July 17th, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down near the Ukraine-Russian border, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board. An outstanding controversy remains over who actually shot the plane down, but the victims still remain. This selfie was posted before takeoff by a 15-year-old Dutch boy and his mother.