DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) — It was this day 34 years ago when Delta flight 191 crashed at DFW Airport, leaving more than 130 people dead.
Russ Vandeveerdonk was on the tarmac when the crash happened and said it left a major impact on his life.
“I still think about it when I drive by there,” Vandeveerdonk said. “I’ve brought flowers on the 10, 15th, and 20th [anniversaries], and I’ve got involved with family members who lost people on that flight.”
The crash was a result of a downburst during a storm, but according to our WBAP and KLIF meteorologist Brad Barton, the cause was originally believed to be something else.
“Up until the Delta crash, similar crashes were blamed on windshear: strong conflicting winds that were close to each other,” Barton said. “It happened somewhere in the world almost every 18 months on average.”
Barton said meteorologist Ted Fujita believed it was a downburst, but didn’t have all the research to back it up. That is, until fellow meteorologist Mike Smith caught one on film, allowing the two to publish their research.
“Once their research was published and incorporated into pilot training in the early 90’s, there’s only been one major downburst accident since then,” Barton said. “Saving thousands of lives.”
Remember,…… https://t.co/lYmcBJajRU pic.twitter.com/zCWw2liDjX
— RussJFK Vandeveerdonk (@RussjfkV) August 2, 2019
Twenty-seven people survived the crash, but witnesses like Vandeveerdonk said it’s the graphic imagery from that day that will stick with him forever.
“Torn up shredded body parts throughout the tarmac, into the grass,” he said. “I still think about it.”