15 Times World War 3 Nearly Started
From wars in the Middle East to faulty computer chips simulating a real nuclear attack, we count 15 times the world almost came to an end in our age of nuclear weapons.
15 – 1979 NORAD computer glitch
This occurred on the morning of November 9th, 1979 at Colorado’s North American Aerospace Defence Command
Technicians received reports that the Soviets had launched a series of missiles at North America, with the response being to launch 10 interceptor fighter planes, get the president on an escape plane and prepare to launch a retaliatory strike
Then we find out a technician had accidentally started a training program to simulate a Soviet attack, a computer glitch that almost destroyed everyone on Earth
14 – Attack on Yeonpyeong
This took place not too long ago, November 2010, an attack by North Korea against South Korean troops stationed at the island of Yeonpyeong
They launched a total of 160 missiles against them, decimating a huge number of people – and even worse, inciting the possibility this border conflict might escalate in World War 3
Though we’ve so far avoided it, this event is still a tragic, meaningless waste of human life
13 – B-52 Crash near Thule
January 21st, 1968, a fire breaks out on a B-52 bomber – the pilot has not time to contact base before he bales out
The plane crashes in some ice 7 miles offshore of Thule, then its fuel and certain compounds of nuclear weapons explode, but does NOT trigger a nuclear detonation
If it had, alerts would have shown an attack on both the nearby base and the bomber itself – indicating to the White House an enemy attack and need for immediate retaliation, but luckily none of this came to pass
12 – 1995 Research Rocket
Norway, January of 1995, local scientists launch a research rocket to study the aurora borealis
Meanwhile, in Russia, eyes boggle as what looks like a gigantic nuclear warhead torpedoes towards them – so President Boris Yeltsin whips out his briefcase full of nuclear codes purely to launch nukes at every target they can reach
Thankfully, the missile fell into the ocean, Yeltsin put away his briefcase and instead picked up a delicious sandwich
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