History Today: When Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in Epstein case

Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in a high-profile federal case tied to the sexual abuse crimes of financier Jeffrey Epstein on December 29, 2021. 

If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.

On this day in 1999, Korean Air Flight 1533 overran the runway. While there were no casualties, several injuries were reported.

Here is all that took place on this day across the world. 

Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted 

Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in the federal case tied to the sexual abuse crimes of financier Jeffrey Epstein on December 29, 2021. The verdict marked a major moment in a scandal that had drawn global attention for years, involving allegations of sex trafficking, abuse of minors and the role of powerful figures.

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The British socialite Maxwell was found guilty by a New York jury on five of six federal charges. These included sex trafficking of a minor, conspiracy to transport minors to engage in illegal sexual activity and conspiracy to entice minors to travel for criminal sexual acts. Prosecutors argued that Maxwell played a central role in recruiting, grooming and abusing teenage girls for Epstein between 1994 and 2004.

Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein are seen in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, US. File image/Reuters

During the trial, several women testified that Maxwell gained their trust as teenagers, offered gifts or opportunities and then introduced them to Epstein, where they were sexually abused. Prosecutors said Maxwell normalised the abuse and even participated in some cases. The defense argued that Maxwell was being unfairly blamed for Epstein’s crimes and questioned the credibility of witnesses, but the jury rejected those claims.

Epstein himself was arrested in 2019 on sex trafficking charges but died by suicide in a New York jail before his case went to trial. His death intensified public scrutiny and raised questions about accountability for others involved in his crimes. Maxwell’s conviction was widely seen as a measure of justice for victims who had waited decades to be heard.

The jury acquitted Maxwell on one count of enticement of a minor, but the convictions carried severe consequences. In June 2022, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Jeju plane crash took place

On this day in 2024, South Korea suffered its deadliest aviation disaster on home soil when Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737-800 flying from Bangkok, crashed during an emergency landing at Muan International Airport.

As the plane approached Muan, it struck a flock of birds, causing engine failure. Facing a critical emergency, the pilots made the choice to attempt a high-stakes belly landing after the landing gear failed to deploy. 

The plane successfully touched down on its belly, and for a moment, survival seemed possible. However, the aircraft overran the runway and slammed into a massive concrete embankment housing navigation equipment. International safety standards suggest such structures should be breakable, yet airport planners chose to build a rigid concrete barrier.

Two out of the 181 people on board the flight lost their lives. The bereaved families have opted to pressure the National Assembly and a year later, a special independent inquiry was launched on December 22, 2025.

This Day, That Year

With inputs from agencies