Major Events of March 1978: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from March 1978 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of March 1978: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Mar 1978 Continental DC-10 Crash at LAX: A tragic aviation incident occurred on March 1, 1978, when a Continental DC-10 crashed during takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The flight, bound for Honolulu, had 197 passengers and crew on board. The crash resulted in two fatalities and at least 40 injuries, highlighting the aviation safety challenges of the era.
02 Mar 1978 First Non-Russian/Non-American in Space: Czech cosmonaut Vladimir Remek made history by becoming the first person from a country other than the United States or Soviet Union to travel to space, launched aboard Soyuz 28. This breakthrough symbolized the expanding international participation in space exploration.
03 Mar 1978 Cuban Military Support in Ethiopian-Somali Conflict: Ethiopia officially acknowledged receiving military assistance from Cuban troops in its ongoing conflict with Somalia over the Ogaden region. This revelation underscored the complex geopolitical dynamics of the Cold War era, with Cuba supporting Ethiopia's military operations.
04 Mar 1978 Soviet Cosmonauts Break Space Endurance Record: Soviet cosmonauts Yuri Romanenko and Georgy Grechko set a new milestone in space exploration by spending 85 consecutive days aboard the Salyut 6 space station, breaking previous long-duration spaceflight records.
05 Mar 1978 First Non-Soviet/US Space Traveler: Soyuz 28 was launched from the Soviet Union, marking a historic moment as the first space mission to include a cosmonaut from a nation other than the United States or Soviet Union aboard the Salyut 6 space station.
06 Mar 1978 Carter Invokes Taft-Hartley Act to End Coal Miners' Strike: U.S. President Jimmy Carter took decisive action to resolve a prolonged labor dispute by invoking the Taft-Hartley Act, forcing an end to the United Mine Workers Association (UMWA) strike. The strike, which had persisted for three months during a harsh winter, was disrupting national energy production. Carter emphasized the critical nature of his intervention, stating that his primary responsibility was to protect public health and safety, and that the country could not afford further delays in resolving the labor conflict.
07 Mar 1978 Boxing Championship Fight: Joe Frazier successfully defended his world heavyweight championship by winning a 15-round decision against former champion Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden, continuing their legendary rivalry.
08 Mar 1978 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Radio Debut: Douglas Adams' groundbreaking science fiction comedy series, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, made its inaugural broadcast on BBC Radio 4. This innovative radio show would later become a cultural phenomenon, spawning novels, television series, and a feature film, and introducing audiences to the hilarious cosmic adventures of Arthur Dent and his alien friend Ford Prefect.
09 Mar 1978 First Indonesian Toll Highway Inaugurated: President Soeharto officially inaugurated the Jagorawi Toll Road, marking Indonesia's first toll highway. This significant infrastructure project connected the major cities of Jakarta, Bogor, and Ciawi in West Java, representing a major milestone in the country's transportation development.
10 Mar 1978 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978: The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act was signed into law by U.S. President Jimmy Carter, establishing significant restrictions on the export of American nuclear technology and strengthening global nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
11 Mar 1978 Coastal Road Massacre: A tragic terrorist attack where nine Palestinian Al Fatah guerrillas hijacked a bus in Israel, resulting in the deaths of 34 civilians and wounding 70 others. The attackers were ultimately killed by Israeli security forces. This incident prompted Israel to launch Operation Litani, a military invasion of southern Lebanon three days later.
12 Mar 1978 French National Assembly Election First Round: The first round of voting was held in France for all 491 seats of the Assemblée Nationale, with 68 seats filled by candidates who won directly in this initial round. This election represented a key moment in French democratic process, determining representation in the national legislature.
13 Mar 1978 Giulio Andreotti Forms New Italian Government: Giulio Andreotti was sworn in as Prime Minister of Italy, establishing a new government with 20 cabinet members, officially inaugurated by President Giovanni Leone.
14 Mar 1978 Israel Defense Forces Invade Southern Lebanon: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched Operation Litani, a seven-day military campaign targeting southern Lebanon. The operation was aimed at establishing a security buffer zone and responding to Palestinian militant activities near the Israel-Lebanon border.
15 Mar 1978 China Conducts Nuclear Test at Lop Nor: The People's Republic of China performed a nuclear test at the Lop Nor test site in Xinjiang. This test was part of China's ongoing nuclear weapons development program during the Cold War era, demonstrating the country's military and technological capabilities.
16 Mar 1978 Assassination of Aldo Moro: Aldo Moro, a prominent five-time Prime Minister of Italy, was kidnapped by the left-wing terrorist group Red Brigades and later assassinated. During the kidnapping, five of his bodyguards were killed, marking a dark moment in Italian political history.
17 Mar 1978 Amoco Cadiz Oil Spill: The Amoco Cadiz oil tanker ran aground off the coast of Brittany, France, resulting in a catastrophic environmental disaster. Approximately 1.6 million gallons of crude oil were spilled into the ocean, causing significant ecological damage to marine and coastal ecosystems.
18 Mar 1978 Pakistani Former Premier Sentenced to Death: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, was sentenced to death by hanging for allegedly ordering the assassination of a political opponent, marking a significant political upheaval in Pakistan's history.
19 Mar 1978 UN Resolution Calls for Israeli Withdrawal from Lebanon: The United Nations Security Council passed Resolutions 425 and 426, demanding that Israel immediately cease its military operations and withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory during Operation Litani. The resolutions also established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to monitor the situation and help restore peace in the region.
20 Mar 1978 International Space Mission: Soyuz 28 Docks with Salyut 6: On March 20, 1978, Soyuz 28 successfully docked with the Salyut 6 space station, marking a significant moment in international space exploration. The mission was particularly notable as it carried Vladimír Remek, the first non-Soviet, non-American astronaut in space, representing Czechoslovakia. Remek was accompanied by Soviet cosmonaut Aleksei Gubarev, symbolizing the collaborative spirit of space exploration during the Cold War era.
21 Mar 1978 Chiang Ching-kuo Elected President of Taiwan: The National Assembly of the Republic of China elected Chiang Ching-kuo as the nation's new president, who was set to take office on May 20, 1978. This marked a significant moment in Taiwanese political history, as Chiang Ching-kuo would play a crucial role in Taiwan's democratization process.
22 Mar 1978 French Nuclear Test: France conducted a nuclear weapons test, continuing its nuclear weapons development program during the Cold War era.
23 Mar 1978 UNIFIL Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon: The first United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) troops arrived in Lebanon to establish a peacekeeping mission along the Blue Line, aimed at restoring stability in the region following ongoing conflicts between Israel and Lebanon.
24 Mar 1978 United Mine Workers End Strike: Members of the United Mine Workers union in the United States voted overwhelmingly to accept a three-year contract with coal operators, effectively ending a significant labor dispute. This resolution brought stability to the coal mining industry and resolved ongoing tensions between workers and management.
25 Mar 1978 Burma Airways Flight Tragedy: A devastating aviation disaster occurred when a Fokker Friendship 200 turboprop aircraft crashed during takeoff from Rangoon (Yangon) airport, resulting in the tragic loss of all 48 passengers and crew members. The crash highlighted the critical importance of aviation safety standards during this period.
26 Mar 1978 Terrorist Attack at New Tokyo International Airport: On March 26, 1978, the control tower and other facilities of the New Tokyo International Airport were illegally occupied and damaged by New Left activists. This terrorist attack forced the airport's scheduled opening on March 31 to be postponed until May 20. The incident highlighted the political tensions and radical activism prevalent in Japan during the late 1970s.
27 Mar 1978 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Kentucky Triumphs: In the 40th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, the Kentucky Wildcats defeated Duke with a score of 94-88, securing their 5th national title. Forward Jack Givens delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 41 points and leading his team to victory.
28 Mar 1978 Stump v. Sparkman Supreme Court Decision: The US Supreme Court handed down a controversial 5-3 decision in Stump v. Sparkman (435 U.S. 349), a landmark case addressing judicial immunity in a deeply troubling involuntary sterilization lawsuit. The case highlighted complex legal questions surrounding judicial discretion and individual rights.
29 Mar 1978 Billboard Hot 100 Number One Hit: Night Fever: The Bee Gees' hit song 'Night Fever' topped the US music charts during the week of March 27th to April 2nd, 1978. This track was part of the immensely popular Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, which significantly influenced pop music and disco culture of the late 1970s.
30 Mar 1978 History of the American Film Theater Production Debuts: The theatrical production 'History of the American Film' opened at the ANTA Theater in New York City, running for 21 performances. This cultural event showcased a unique exploration of American cinema's narrative and historical development.
31 Mar 1978 Red Rum Wins Third Grand National and Retires: Red Rum, the legendary racehorse, achieved a historic feat by winning his third Grand National and subsequently retiring, cementing his status as one of the greatest racehorses in history.