No one is perfect, and mistakes are inevitable. However, over time there have been many mistakes that have cost a fortune, not to mention human losses and environmental impact. If we aroused your curiosity, here are 10 of the most expensive mistakes in history. Bemorepanda collected them to inform you!
1. The explosion of the Ariane rocket 5
On June 4, 1996, the first Ariane 5 rocket started its engines and was launched from the coast of French Guiana. 37 seconds later, the rocket twisted 90 degrees in the wrong direction and in less than two seconds - the aerodynamic forces caused the amplifiers outside the rocket to break. This triggered the self-destruct mechanism and the rocket exploded. The disastrous launch cost about $ 370 million and delayed scientific research on the operation of the Earth's magnetosphere by almost 4 years. The launch of Ariane 5 is widely recognized as one of the most expensive software failures in history.
2. The sinking of the Titanic
The sinking of the Titanic is one of the most disastrous maritime accidents in history. On April 14, 1912, just four days after leaving port, the huge ship was destroyed in the North Atlantic Ocean in a collision with an iceberg, and about 1,500 people lost their lives. A century later, it emerged that the sinking of the Titanic was caused by a navigation error, doubled by a wrong decision. The financial loss was estimated at $ 7.5 million or about $ 168 million today.
3. Hitler's came to power
Henry Tandey, the most decorated British soldier during the First World War, could change history and stop all the horrors caused by the Nazis, as well as the loss of 60 million lives in World War II.
While on a battlefield in France during World War I, Tandey (a 26-year-old soldier) aimed his rifle at a wounded German soldier who was trying to flee to save his life. , according to Mirror. Out of compassion, Tandey spared the young man. That was Hitler, and he was 29 at the time.
4. SNCF and its oversized trains
With only a few extra inches, the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF), the French national railway company, and the Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) angered the French. In 2014, in order to accommodate more passengers and give them more space in trains, SNCF ordered 341 trains that were too wide to pass through certain French stations. As a result, the company was forced to build 1,300 docks at a cost of 50 million euros.
5. The hunter who started one of the largest forest fires in California
In 2003, a 34-year-old Californian hunter got lost in a forest in San Diego and lit a fire to be found by authorities. Unfortunately, due to carelessness, the fire spread rapidly in the forest, and this mistake started one of the most devastating fires in California history. The loss was about $ 1.2 billion, and the fire destroyed more than 110,500 hectares, 2,820 buildings and killed 15 people.
The culprit was fined $ 9,000 and sentenced to 960 hours of community service.
6. $ 225 million lost due to a input error
A typo cost the Japanese company Mizuho Securities $ 225 million. On December 8, 2005, the brand issued an order mentioning the sale of 610,000 shares for one yen per share. In reality, they intended to sell a 610,000 yen (about 5,000 euros) share on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
7. Piper Alpha platform explosion due to a valve
The explosion of the Piper Alpha platform is listed as the worst oil disaster to occur offshore. The event took place on the night of July 6, 1988, as part of maintenance operations. The safety valves were replaced, but the technicians made a mistake and forgot to replace a single valve. Because of this, when an attempt was made to activate the liquid gas pumps, the 90-meter-high platform was engulfed in charcoal and exploded. As a result of this disaster, 167 workers lost their lives and the material damage was estimated at about $ 3.4 billion.
8. The 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands
The war in the Falkland Islands (also called the Falkland Islands) - located about 500 km from the coast of Argentina and 13,000 kilometers from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, lost by Argentina, cost the country 850 million dollars . But in addition to the material losses, more than 700 young soldiers lost their lives.
9. The Chernobyl nuclear disaster
On April 26, 1986, the number four reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant suffered a catastrophic explosion of its steam-fired boilers, which triggered a fire, a series of additional explosions and radioactive leaks.
Radioactive material spread through the atmosphere has severely affected the health of millions of people. It is estimated that the radiation released into the atmosphere was 100 times stronger than that emitted by the atomic bombs in Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
10. Russia sold the territory of Alaska to the United States
In 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the United States for $ 7.2 million (currently about $ 132 million) - and this is listed as one of the most costly mistakes in history. Faced with major financial problems and the fear of losing the colonies without any compensation, Tsar Alexander II decided to get rid of his North American territories, which at the time did not bring him much benefits.
No one then imagined the protos that the Americans will get from this acquisition. Alaska is indeed rich in natural resources such as gold and oil. Oil and gas reserves are worth $ 200 billion, according to economists.
