How did the Cuban missile crisis almost start ww3?

The Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 brought the U.S. and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war when American reconnaissance revealed Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. mainland. This prompted a tense 13-day standoff, during which both superpowers faced the potential for direct military confrontation. Miscommunication, military readiness, and the presence of nuclear weapons created an atmosphere of extreme tension, raising fears that any miscalculation could escalate into World War III. Ultimately, a negotiated settlement led to the withdrawal of missiles from Cuba in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba and secretly removing missiles from Turkey.