Severe Storms Disrupt Record-Breaking Wichita Airshow, Causing Injuries and Aircraft Damage
Staff Editor Military Airshow Cut Short as Storms Strike Near Wichita
A popular military airshow in Kansas was abruptly canceled on Sunday after unexpected storms swept through the area, causing damage to aircraft and injuring several attendees. The Frontiers in Flight Airshow, held at McConnell Air Force Base near Wichita, had attracted record-high attendance on Saturday before the weather forced officials to close down the flight line.
The sudden storm, described as a wet microburst, brought wind gusts of up to 54 mph, tossing tents and damaging aircraft. Senior Master Sgt. Melissa Healy, a US Air Force flight chief, likened the experience to “dumping a bucket of water” and noted that the microburst occurred just 2.5 miles from the flight line.
At least 10 people, including six military personnel and four civilian vendors, sustained injuries during the incident. Two individuals required transportation to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Despite the advanced forecasting capabilities available, the sudden nature of the storm caught organizers off guard. “Mother Nature can still surprise us,” Healy acknowledged.
The airshow had boasted a packed schedule of aerial performances, featuring the US Navy Blue Angels, the US Air Force F-35A Lightning II demo team, and the Tora Tora Tora commemorative aerial demo team.
While most visiting aircraft escaped with minimal or no damage, some smaller planes were more severely affected. A privately owned Cessna 150 was flipped upside down by the strong winds, and a Cessna UC-78 Bobcat suffered damage to its tail assembly after being pushed into a parked vehicle.
Following the storm, base personnel worked diligently to clear debris from the flight line, including temporary fencing, porta-potties, and downed tents. An explosive ordnance disposal team safely detonated unused pyrotechnics intended for the canceled Tora Tora Tora performance at a range away from the air base.
Despite Sunday’s cancellation, the Frontiers in Flight Airshow had already set a new attendance record, with more than 65,000 visitors on Saturday – the highest in the history of the Air Force base.
