What name describes the rapid U.S. market plunge on 6 May 2010?

The rapid U.S. market plunge on 6 May 2010 was called the Flash Crash.

On that afternoon, major U.S. stock indexes fell abruptly before recovering much of the loss within minutes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped about 1,000 points, or roughly 9 percent, before rebounding.

Investigations found that high-frequency trading, automated orders, market liquidity, and a large sell order contributed to the extreme movements. In 2015, U.S. authorities charged trader Navinder Singh Sarao with using spoofing and layering strategies connected to the event; he later pleaded guilty.

The Flash Crash differed from a conventional bear market because its most dramatic movement happened in minutes and was partly reversed quickly. It led to stronger market safeguards, including tighter controls on automated trading.