13 events that took place on Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th has long been viewed as bad luck, but do bad things really happen more often on those days? Here's a look at 13 events — good, bad and otherwise — that have occurred on a Friday the 13th.
Jan. 13, 2012: The Costa Concordia runs aground
The Costa Concordia ran aground off the coast of Tuscany, overnight on Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, sending water pouring in through a 160-foot (50-meter) gash in the hull and forcing the evacuation of some 4,200 people from the listing vessel. Thirty-two passengers died, as well as one salvage crew member. The captain, who was heavily criticized for leaving the ship before the passengers, was later charged with manslaughter.Â
Although the disaster occurred on Friday the 13th, the superstition is not shared among Italians, who generally consider Friday the 17th to be a day of bad luck.
The luxury cruise ship is shown here on it its side Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012.Â
Sept. 13, 1996: Tupac Shakur dies
Rapper Tupac Shakur died on Sept. 13, 1996. He was shot four times during a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on Sept. 7, 1996.
Shakur is shown here speaking as fellow rap artist Snoop Doggy Dogg listens during a voter registration rally in South Central Los Angeles, on Aug. 15, 1996, file photo.Â
Nov. 13, 1970: Bhola cyclone dissipates
The Bhola cyclone that hit East Pakistan (present day Bengladesh) dissipated Friday, Nov. 13, 1970, after killing up to 500,000 people according to some counts.
It remains the deadliest tropical cyclone in recorded history.
This is an aerial view of devastation in the aftermath of the cyclone, Nov. 1970.
Jan. 13, 1939: Black Friday bushfires
Known as the Black Friday fires, the bushfires on Jan. 13 1939, in Victoria, Australia, were part of an especially devastating fire season. They followed a drought that lasted several years. About 2 million hectares were burned and 71 people died.
Aug. 13, 2004: The Olympics return to Athens
The opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games took place on Friday, Aug. 13, 2004. It marked the return of the Olympics to the city in which the modern games began in 1896.
Oct. 13, 1972: Flight 571 crashes in the Andes
Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 was carrying 45 people when it crashed in the Andes on Friday, Oct. 13, 1972. Many died during the crash or later from cold temperatures, injuries and an avalanche that struck their shelter.
Sixteen of them survived 72 days in the Andes before they were rescued. Official sources said some of the survivors acknowledged eating parts of bodies to avoid starvation, according to the Associated Press.
Eight of the survivors are shown here huddling together in the craft's fuselage on their final night before rescue on Dec. 27, 1972. A mountain rescue team brought them food.
Dec. 13, 1957: Steve Buscemi is born
Actor Steve Buscemi was born Friday, Dec. 13, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York.
Horror movie legend Alfred Hitchcock is often credited with being born on a Friday the 13th as well. However, Hitchcock was born on Aug. 13, 1899, which was a Sunday.
July 13, 1821: Nathan Bedford Forrest is born
Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest was born Friday, July 13, 1821 in Chapel Hill, Tennessee. Forrest served as the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.
An anthropologist explains why we all have some irrational beliefs and the reason they give us comfort.
Many elevators don't have a floor numbered 13. Here's how common superstitions like the fear of 13 can gain steam.
Do bad things really happen more often on Friday the 13th?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said: “I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the ea…
