15. The Downing of Iran Air Flight 655 (1988)
On July 3, 1988, the U.S. Navy cruiser USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Strait of Hormuz, mistaking it for a hostile aircraft. The incident resulted in the deaths of all 290 people on board. Iran considered military retaliation, but through back-channel negotiations and reparations, a broader conflict was averted. For more details, see the BBC News article (bbc.com).
