Historical timeline for October 31

Berlin Brandenburg Airport opens its doors after nearly 10 years of delays due to construction issues and project corruption.

A truck drives into a crowd in Lower Manhattan, New York City, killing eight people.

Metrojet Flight 9268 is bombed over the northern Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 people on board.

During a test flight, the VSS Enterprise, a Virgin Galactic experimental spaceflight test vehicle, suffers a catastrophic in-flight breakup and crashes in the Mojave Desert, California.

The global population of humans reaches seven billion. This day is now recognized by the United Nations as the Day of Seven Billion.

Mahathir Mohamad resigns as Prime Minister of Malaysia and is replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, marking an end to Mahathir's 22 years in power.

A federal grand jury in Houston, Texas indicts former Enron chief financial officer Andrew Fastow on 78 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction of justice related to the collapse of his ex-employer.

Singapore Airlines Flight 006 crashes on takeoff from Taipei, killing 83.

Soyuz TM-31 launches, carrying the first resident crew to the International Space Station. The ISS has been crewed continuously since then.

EgyptAir Flight 990 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantucket, killing all 217 people on board.

Yachtsman Jesse Martin returns to Melbourne after 11 months of circumnavigating the world, solo, non-stop and unassisted.

Iraq disarmament crisis begins: Iraq announces it would no longer cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors.

TAM Transportes Aéreos Regionais Flight 402 crashes in São Paulo, Brazil, killing 99 people.

American Eagle Flight 4184 crashes near Roselawn, Indiana killing all 68 people on board.

Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is assassinated by two Sikh security guards. Riots break out in New Delhi and other cities and around 3,000 Sikhs are killed.

Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes on landing in Mexico City, killing 73 people.

Three Provisional Irish Republican Army members escape from Mountjoy Prison, Dublin aboard a hijacked helicopter that landed in the exercise yard.

Great Drought of 1968: Amidst a collapse of hydropower President of Chile Eduardo Frei Montalva decrees the establishment of daylight saving time.

Vietnam War October surprise: Citing progress with the Paris peace talks, US President Lyndon B. Johnson announces to the nation that he has ordered a complete cessation of "all air, naval, and artillery bombardment of North Vietnam" effective November 1.

Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum gas explosion: A gas explosion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum in Indianapolis kills 81 people and injures another 400 during an ice show.