Not exactly a news headline moment, but sort of related. When the Mississippi flooded over big time about 9 (??) years ago, I saw it on the news of course. A few days later, I was flying from NY to Nebraska, and when the plane flew over the Mississippi, I looked out the window and I would have sworn we were flying over Lake Michigan or an equally large body of water. That was a “Holy sh*t, you are kidding me!” kind of moment, I think I caused a bit of a stir on the plane because I just couldn’t get over it. I asked the flight attendant if she was sure the pilot was on his way to Nebraska, because we seemed to be over a good-sized inland sea.
Columbine: I came home early and turned on the TV. It had only been broadcast for less than half an hour at that time; they didn’t yet know who the shooters were. Called my mom and said, “The world’s gone mad.”
Diana: First I heard that she’d been in a car accident; just that, and I thought she was only injured. Sent an e-mail to a friend saying, “You don’t think the Windsors would be so crude as to have her put down, do you?” Later, Mr. Rilch was listening to Art Bell, who announced her death as part of his news updates. Stopped whatever I’d been doing and said, “Wh— She is dead?!”
We also found out from Art Bell that Sinatra had died.
Seeing Joe Random Chinese Guy facing down a tank in Tiananmen Square. Until they cut back to the studio, I honestly thought he would be run over. I still tear up thinking about it.
Not a “Holy Shit” moment, but I was readying for school one morning when the newscaster announced that Robert Preston had died. My mom and I spontaneously and in unison said, “Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww…”
Anyone remember that little girl who was supposed to be the youngest person to fly coast to coast? Was on a movie, on the Concorde [:p] lot, outside playing Hacky Sack. Carpenter came out of the shack, where they had a radio, and said, “That little girl’s plane went down: no survivors.”
“You’re kidding.” What I’d meant was, I’d expected that to happen, but hadn’t thought it actually would.
Grammy Awards, when Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley came out and announced that they really were married. “This is the only time I’ve ever seen a tabloid headline that was true.”