What happened in September 1987?
The top front-page story of each day in September 1987, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Sep 1🌍 Thai Airways Crash – A Thai Airways jet crashed into the sea near Phuket Island, with officials believing all 83 passengers aboard were killed.
- Sep 2🔬 New Cholesterol Drug Approved – The FDA approved a new drug hailed as the most effective remedy for lowering cholesterol in the blood, promising significant health benefits.
- Sep 3🌍 Chagall Exhibition Opens – A major exhibition of Marc Chagall's works opened at the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, celebrating the artist's centenary.
- Sep 4🔬 Predicted Decay Observed – Scientists report the first direct observation of a rare form of radioactivity, previously known only theoretically.
- Sep 5🚌 21 Die in Bus Plunge – A bus filled with Taiwan tourists plunged from a mountain highway into a ravine, killing 21 and injuring 21 others, according to police.
- Sep 6🏅 Lewis Wins Gold Medal – Carl Lewis secured his first gold medal at the World Track and Field Championships, despite falling short of a world record.
- Sep 7🌍 Landslide Toll in China – Rescue workers recovered 65 bodies from a landslide in Sichuan Province, with 20 people still unaccounted for after the disaster.
- Sep 8🐸 Ancient Frog in Amber – A tiny frog, preserved in amber for nearly 40 million years, reveals clues about animal arrival in the Caribbean.
- Sep 9🌍 Ozone Layer Concerns – Environmentalists claim the Reagan Administration is undermining an international agreement to limit harmful chemicals affecting the ozone layer.
- Sep 10🌍 New Chinese Oilfield – China discovers a new offshore oilfield with an estimated 700 million barrels of reserves in Guangdong province.
- Sep 11🗽 Flame of Liberty Unveiled – The Flame of Liberty, a replica of the Statue of Liberty's flame, was unveiled to commemorate U.S.-France ties and a newspaper's anniversary.
- Sep 12⚓ Titanic Artifacts Found – Artifacts from the Titanic, including jewels and a safe, are on their way to a laboratory after a 46-day treasure hunt in the sunken ship.
- Sep 13🌍 Pope John Paul II – Pope John Paul II denounced the economic deprivation suffered by American blacks and praised the civil rights movement's nonviolent tactics.
- Sep 14👶 Siamese Twins Recover – Infant twins separated in a 22-hour surgery begin to wake from drug-induced comas and breathe independently.
- Sep 15🚀 Europeans Set for Launch – Western Europe's space program is set to resume flights tonight with the launching of a modified Ariane 3 rocket at Kourou, French Guiana.
- Sep 16🚀 European Space Launch – Western Europe successfully launched an Ariane 3 rocket, marking its return to active space exploration with two communications satellites.
- Sep 17🌍 Ozone Protection Agreement – Dozens of nations reached a historic agreement to protect the ozone layer, marking a significant milestone in international environmental cooperation.
- Sep 18✝️ Papal Visit Protests – Pope John Paul II faced the largest protests of his U.S. visit in San Francisco, where demonstrators voiced their dissent outside Mission Dolores.
- Sep 19🌍 Ozone Layer Breakthrough – A significant reversal in attitudes towards the ozone layer's protection occurred in Montreal, addressing concerns over chlorofluorocarbons.
- Sep 20🕊️ Pope Visits Arctic Indians – Pope John Paul II fulfilled a promise by visiting Arctic Indians in Canada, celebrating mass after a previous visit was canceled due to fog.
- Sep 21📸 Polaroid Launches Magazine – Polaroid introduces 'Instant,' a revamped magazine focused on instant photography, featuring articles and photos from instant cameras.
- Sep 22🌍 Hurricane Emily Strengthens – Hurricane Emily formed in the Caribbean with winds up to 75 mph, prompting a hurricane watch for Hispaniola's south coast.
- Sep 23🏥 Hirohito's Surgery Success – Emperor Hirohito underwent successful surgery for a swollen pancreas, with doctors taking a tissue sample to test for cancer.
- Sep 24⚓ Titanic Artifacts Displayed – Artifacts from the Titanic, hidden for 75 years, were publicly displayed for the first time in Paris.
- Sep 25🔬 Alaska Bones Discovery – Fossils found in Alaska challenge the theory that a comet or asteroid caused the extinction of dinosaurs, sparking new scientific debate.
- Sep 26🏒 Potvin Announces Retirement – Denis Potvin, NHL's top defenseman, officially announced his retirement plans after 15 seasons with the Islanders at a news conference.
- Sep 27🌍 U.N. Appeals for Aid – The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization calls for massive food aid donations for drought-stricken Ethiopia, facing severe crop failures.
- Sep 28🌍 Women in Leadership – Directories show increasing numbers of women elected to offices and expanding women's studies courses.
- Sep 29🌋 Lava Destroys Homes – A lava flow from Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii destroyed two houses and threatened three others in the Royal Gardens subdivision.
- Sep 30🌊 Flood Toll Rises – Torrential rains and flooding in South Africa have led to 60 confirmed deaths, described as the worst in living memory.
Happy Birthday! 1987 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1987 in real headlines. See the 1987 book →
Born in September? Pick the day
Every birthday in September has its own On This Day in Headlines book: