8. January 25, 1995

Image Credit

Russian early warning systems indicated a missile launch from the area of Spitzbergen, Norway. With only a 5-minute flight time to Moscow, Russian defenses transitioned to combat mode and prepared to retaliate. With little more than a minute to spare, it was determined that the missile’s flight path would not send it into Russian territory and the alert was canceled. Although Norway had properly notified 35 countries (including Russia) that a missile test had been scheduled, the information never reached the on duty personnel manning the Russian early warning systems.