5. The 1988 Downing of Iran Air Flight 655
On July 3, 1988, the U.S. Navy cruiser USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655, an Airbus A300, over the Strait of Hormuz, killing all 290 people aboard. The Vincennes mistook the civilian airliner for an Iranian F-14 fighter jet amid heightened tensions during the Iran-Iraq War. This tragic incident severely strained U.S.-Iran relations and remains a contentious chapter in the history of both nations. For more details, see CNN.
