Historical eventJune 261988

Airbus A320 family

The first crash of an Airbus A320 occurs when Air France Flight 296Q crashes at Mulhouse–Habsheim Airfield in Habsheim, France, during an air show, killing three of the 136 people on board.

Everything on June 26Original source

In context

When
Sunday, June 26 198838 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1980s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1988.

What came beforeAI-assisted

The Airbus A320 first flew in February 1987 and entered commercial service with Air France in March 1988. By June 1988, the aircraft had completed several months of successful operations with multiple airlines.

Air France organized a public air show at Mulhouse–Habsheim Airfield to demonstrate the A320's capabilities to potential customers and the media. The aircraft was one of the airline's newest additions to its fleet.

Catalyst / how it startedAI-assisted

During a low-altitude flyby demonstration, Air France Flight 296Q descended below the intended altitude while approaching the airfield. The pilots were executing a planned maneuver to showcase the aircraft's handling characteristics to spectators.

Who was involvedAI-assisted

The flight was piloted by Captain Michel Asseline and First Officer François Mazet. The aircraft carried 136 people total, including crew, passengers, and invited guests for the air show demonstration.

Air France organized the event, and Airbus, as the manufacturer, had representatives present. The crash occurred at Mulhouse–Habsheim Airfield in the Alsace region of France.

TimelineAI-assisted

June 26, 1988: Air France Flight 296Q crashed during its low-altitude demonstration at approximately 14:44 local time. The aircraft struck trees and terrain near the airfield, killing three people on board and injuring many others.

What happened

The first crash of an Airbus A320 occurs when Air France Flight 296Q crashes at Mulhouse–Habsheim Airfield in Habsheim, France, during an air show, killing three of the 136 people on board.

June 26 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1988Airbus A320 family
  2. 2006Mari Alkatiri
  3. 2007Pope Benedict XVI
  4. 20082008 Karmah bombing
  5. 20102010 G20 Toronto summit
  6. 2012Waldo Canyon Fire
  7. 2013Supreme Court of the United States
  8. 2013June 2013 Shanshan riots
  9. 2015Supreme Court of the United States
  10. 201526 June 2015 Islamist attacks
  11. 2024Julian Assange

Also in 1988

  • September 9Vietnam Airlines Flight 831Vietnam Airlines Flight 831 crashes in Khu Khot, Thailand, while on approach to Don Muang International Airport, killing 76.
  • March 14Johnson South Reef skirmishChina defeated Vietnam in a naval altercation while attempting to establish oceanographic observation posts on the Spratly Islands.
  • September 12Hurricane GilbertHurricane Gilbert devastates Jamaica; it turns towards Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula two days later, causing an estimated $5 billion in damage.
  • September 13Hurricane GilbertHurricane Gilbert reached a minimum pressure of 888 mb (26.22 inHg) with sustained flight-level winds of 185 mph (295 km/h), making it th…
  • September 188888 UprisingThe 8888 Uprising in Myanmar comes to an end.
  • September 18Henri NamphyGeneral Henri Namphy, president of Haiti, is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by General Prosper Avril.
  • September 18Magna Charta UniversitatumThe Magna Charta Universitatum, asserting key principles essential to the free operation of universities, is signed in Bologna by the rec…
  • August 10Civil Liberties Act of 1988The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 became law, authorizing reparations to surviving Japanese Americans interned during World War II.

Everything we record for 1988 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Airbus A320 family”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/airbus-a320-family-1988-june-26, accessed October 25, 2026.

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Questions about this entry

When did Airbus A320 family happen?

June 26 1988 — 38 years ago, on a Sunday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints. Panels marked AI-assisted were filled where the sources left a heading empty.

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