Everyone knows about the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by what we can now call “small” nuclear bombs, especially when compared to the yield of modern nuclear weapons we possess today. However, what many may not realize is that there have been several instances when the world came dangerously close to a nuclear war—incidents that could have wiped out entire nations, decimated humanity, and pushed civilization toward extinction.
In this article, we will discuss some of the most critical and lesser-known nuclear close calls in history, highlighting how miscalculations, accidents, and human errors have nearly led us to catastrophic outcomes.
The Moon That Almost Started a War (October 5, 1960)
It was the height of the Cold War, and both the US and USSR were locked in a deadly nuclear arms race. On October 5, 1960, the US NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) picked up signals showing that a dozen Soviet nuclear missiles were in the air and heading straight for the US. The whole defence system went on maximum alert.
But then, officials started thinking—Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev was in New York for a UN meeting. Would he order a nuclear attack while visiting the country? Also, if it were a real attack, the missiles would be heading for major cities like Washington, DC, and New York, not just military bases. Therefore, more knowledgeable individuals made the decision to investigate the situation more thoroughly. And what did they find? The radar had been fooled by the moon rising over Norway! The computers thought it was a missile launch. Fortunately, careful thinking proved to be crucial.
Cuban Missile Crisis (October 1962)
The Cuban Missile Crisis began when the Soviet Union secretly deployed nuclear missiles to Cuba, discovered by American U-2 spy planes in October 1962. US President Kennedy imposed a naval blockade around Cuba, escalating tensions rapidly. The situation reached its peak when a US U2 reconnaissance plane was shot down over Cuba, and Fidel Castro (leader of Cuba) urged Khrushchev to authorize a preemptive nuclear strike if the U.S. invaded. However, through diplomatic negotiations, both countries agreed to remove nuclear weapons. The Soviet Union would remove its missiles from Cuba in exchange for the U.S. lifting the naval blockade and secretly withdrawing its Jupiter missiles from Turkey, and by late November, the crisis ended with Soviet missiles removed from Cuba and a U.S. pledge not to invade the island, avoiding a catastrophic nuclear war.
Cuban Missile Crisis Submarine Incident (27 October 1962)
Amidst the ongoing Cuban Missile Crisis in late October 1962, the Soviet Union deployed four submarines near Cuba, armed with nuclear-tipped torpedoes comparable to the Hiroshima bomb. The submarine captains were authorized to fire these nuclear torpedoes under extreme conditions. To make matters worse, the submarines had lost contact with Moscow.
Thinking war had already begun, the submarine’s captain decided to launch a nuclear torpedo against the U.S. fleet, a decision that needed approval from two other officers. However, Vasili Arkhipov, the senior officer and flotilla commander, refused to authorize the launch, preventing nuclear war. Arkhipov is now remembered as “The Man Who Saved the World,” a title also given to others like Stanislav Petrov (who averted another nuclear disaster). This event is regarded as one of the closest near-misses in nuclear history.
A False Alarm from Training Tape (November 9, 1979)
In 1979, the Cold War was still on. On November 9, the US early warning system suddenly showed a massive Soviet missile attack on its way. Officials at NORAD, the Pentagon, and even the White House scrambled to respond. Bomber planes were put on high alert, and President Jimmy Carter was informed.
But as they cross-checked with satellite data, nothing was found. No Soviet missiles, no attack. So what happened? Later, they found out that someone had accidentally loaded a training tape—a simulation—into the system, making it look like a real attack. Once again, disaster was avoided.
March 15, 1980—The Soviet Submarine Missile
On March 15, 1980, when Soviet submarines were conducting military drills, they launched four missiles near the Kuril Islands (near Japan). US early warning systems detected one missile’s trajectory as possibly heading toward American soil. This triggered a high-level threat alert in Washington, with officials perceiving it as a nuclear first strike by the Soviets. After thorough analysis, it concluded that the launches were part of a Soviet training exercise rather than an attack.
The Glitch That Almost Started a Nuclear War (June 3, 1980)
Just months later, on June 3, 1980, another incident happened. The US warning system showed not one but two separate Soviet missile attacks within minutes of each other. US nuclear forces were put on alert, ready to respond. However, checks from other radars and satellites showed no missiles in the air. Officials realized that it was a technical malfunction, a tiny computer chip that had failed, causing false alarms.
Stanislav Petrov—The Man Who Saved the World (September 26, 1983)
In 1983, tension between the US and the USSR was peaking due to the war in Afghanistan. On September 26, Soviet warning systems suddenly showed that the US had launched five nuclear missiles toward the Soviet Union. Soviet officer Stanislav Petrov was on duty. His job was to report any signs of an attack so the USSR could strike back.
But something didn’t feel right to him. Why would the US launch just five missiles? A real attack would involve hundreds. Trusting his gut, Petrov chose not to report the warning as real. Later, it was confirmed that the system had malfunctioned—there were no missiles.
When NATO’s War Game Almost Started a Real War (November 1983)
In November 1983, NATO (the US and its allies) conducted a military exercise called Able Archer. It was designed to simulate what would happen in a nuclear war, including moving troops and nuclear weapons. But the Soviets thought it might be a cover for a real attack. Fearing a surprise strike, they put their nuclear forces on high alert, ready to launch. Fortunately, NATO’s exercise ended without incident.
The Sun That Nearly Set the World on Fire (January 25, 1995)
After the end of the Cold War, officially, none were concerned about the nuclear danger. But On January 25, 1995, Russian radars picked up a missile heading toward Moscow. Fearing it was a nuclear missile from a US submarine, Russian forces went on full alert.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin was given the “nuclear briefcase” and prepared to order a strikeback. But before acting, Russian officials studied the missile’s path and realized it wasn’t heading for Russia’s capital. Later, they found out it was a Norwegian scientific rocket launched to study the Northern Lights. Norway had informed Russia about it in advance, but the message had not yet reached the top level.
Kargil Conflict (1999)
Soon after becoming nuclear powers, both India and Pakistan were involved in the Kargil conflict, when Pakistani troops and militants infiltrated Indian positions in Jammu and Kashmir. With nuclear deterrence, Pakistan wrongly assumed that India would avoid military escalation. However, India launched a full military response under “Operation Vijay,” successfully driving out uninvited intruders. Despite escalation, Kargil did not turn nuclear. The message has been sent to Pakistan that India would take any measures to protect its territorial integrity.
2001 Parliament Attack and Operation Parakram (2001-2002)
In December 2001, Pakistani terrorists attacked the Indian Parliament, which led India to mobilize its military in Operation Parakram. For nearly a year, India held its arms ready to fire if ordered, leading to a tense standoff along the border. Although the war was ultimately avoided (we will discuss it some other day), this crisis highlighted India’s willingness to protect its interests irrespective of Pakistan having the so-called nuclear shield.
Also Read: India Vs. Pakistan: Nuclear Warfare Capabilities
Balakot Air Strike (2019)
After the Pulwama terrorist attack in which our 40 brave security personnel were killed, India conducted airstrikes in Balakot, Pakistan, targeting terror camps. The Balakot airstrike was a major shift in India’s stance towards responding to Pakistan’s misadventures. Before Balakot there was a lot of scepticism about using air power in response to terrorist attacks. This was the first air strike across the international border since 1971, breaking previous thresholds. In response, Pakistan attempted an air raid of its own, which failed but the Pakistani response seemed more like appeasing the public and saving its face from the embarrassment. Later with the return of Group Captain(then wing commander) Abhinandan Varthaman, tensions got de-escalated.
BrahMos Missile Misfire (March 9, 2022)
On March 9, 2022, a BrahMos missile was accidentally launched from Sirsa, Haryana, during routine maintenance. The missile traveled around 120 kilometers into Pakistani territory, eventually crashing without causing any casualties. But, most importantly, the missile was unarmed. Interestingly, Pakistan’s air defense systems failed to track the missile and shoot it down. India acknowledged the incident two days later and initiated a high-level inquiry. Despite the initial tensions and misunderstanding, both nations managed the situation with restraint, preventing further escalation.
