Plane Crashes That Changed the Skies Forever

On approach to Dallas–Fort Worth during a summer thunderstorm, the Lockheed L-1011 encountered a powerful microburst. The sudden wind shift caused the plane to slam into the ground short of the runway, breaking apart and bursting into flames. Of the 163 people onboard, 137 were killed.

The crash drew attention to a weather phenomenon pilots feared but couldn’t always detect. In response, airports across the United States installed advanced wind shear detection systems. Flight simulators began training crews specifically for microburst encounters, making Delta 191 a turning point in storm-related aviation safety.