WHAT ALL HAPPENED MARCH TO MAY 1997
Find out what all happened March to May 1997

Troops of Laurent Kabila march into Kinshasa. Zaire is officially renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo. (17. May 1997)

Kelly Flinn, the US Air Force's first female bomber pilot certified for combat, accepts a general discharge in order to avoid a court-martial. (22. May 1997)

The tail of a Russian Antonov An-24 charter plane broke off while en route to Turkey causing the plane to crash and killing all 50 people on board and leading to the grounding of all An-24s. (18. March 1997)

The Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993 enters into force, outlawing the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons by its signatories. (29. April 1997)

The Red River Flood of 1997 overwhelms the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Fire breaks out and spreads in downtown Grand Forks, but high water levels hamper efforts to reach the fire, leading to the destruction of 11 buildings. (19. April 1997)

The Sierra Gorda Biosphere, the most ecologically diverse region in Mexico, is established as a result of grassroots efforts. (19. May 1997)

Tara Lipinski, age 14 years and 10 months, becomes the youngest champion women's World Figure Skating Champion. (22. March 1997)

Comet Hale-Bopp is seen passing over perihelion. (1. April 1997)

Thirty-nine bodies are found in the Heaven's Gate cult suicides. (26. March 1997)

The Maeslantkering, a storm surge barrier in the Netherlands that is one of the world's largest moving structures, is opened by Queen Beatrix. (10. May 1997)

The Phoenix lights are seen over Phoenix, Arizona by hundreds of people, and by millions on television. (13. March 1997)

The Japanese embassy hostage crisis ends in Lima, Peru. (22. April 1997)

Haouch Khemisti massacre in Algeria – 93 villagers killed. (22. April 1997)

The Thalit massacre begins in Algeria; all but 1 of the 53 inhabitants of Thalit are killed by guerrillas. (3. April 1997)

Comet Hale–Bopp: Observers in China, Mongolia and eastern Siberia are treated to a rare double feature as an eclipse permits Hale-Bopp to be seen during the day. (9. March 1997)

Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament. (13. April 1997)

India's Missionaries of Charity chooses Sister Nirmala to succeed Mother Teresa as its leader. (13. March 1997)

A military coup in Sierra Leone replaces President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah with Major Johnny Paul Koromah. (25. May 1997)

Mobutu Sese Seko, the President of Zaire, flees the country. (16. May 1997)

A 7.3 Mw earthquake strikes Iran's Khorasan Province, killing 1,567, injuring over 2,300, leaving 50,000 homeless, and damaging or destroying over 15,000 homes. (10. May 1997)