Hello everyone! This past weekend brought some unexpected and unwelcome drama to McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas.
What was supposed to be a thrilling day for thousands of spectators turned into a scramble for safety as a heavy storm hit the area, leading to the cancellation of a much-anticipated airshow and leaving several people with injuries.
On Sunday, a slow-moving wet microburst, packing wind gusts up to 54 mph, rolled through the base. This sudden storm brought heavy winds, lightning, and rain, creating dangerous conditions that ultimately forced the cancellation of the day’s events.
According to base spokesperson John Van Winkle, a total of 10 people were injured—six of them military or medical personnel, and four civilian vendors. Thankfully, the injuries were minor, but an airman and one civilian were taken to a local hospital just to be safe.
CRAZY footage from the McConnell AFB Airshow today. A microburst did some damage. pic.twitter.com/SjkZO4VTSt
— Combat Learjet (@Combat_learjet) August 25, 2024
The storm hit before spectators had entered the event area, which likely prevented what could have been a much more serious situation. Still, the impact was significant enough that the base had no choice but to cancel the airshow. “Safety is always our first priority at McConnell, especially when it comes to hosting the community for an airshow,” Van Winkle emphasized.
🚨🇺🇸 Over 60 MPH winds Cancel and destroy the grounds of the McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas.
Dozens of tents, chairs, porta potties everything was flipped over as a quick moving supercell rips through the area ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/QzXFLluSCH
— Todd Paron🇺🇸🇬🇷🎧👽 (@tparon) August 26, 2024
Kansas State Trooper Joe Owen also reported “significant wind damage,” sharing a photo on social media of an overturned airplane and a portable toilet that had been knocked over by the fierce winds. It was a stark reminder of how quickly weather can turn a fun event into a potentially dangerous situation.
Despite the disappointment, the decision to cancel the airshow was undoubtedly the right one. Saturday’s portion of the event, which drew over 65,000 visitors, went off without a hitch. But Sunday’s weather served as a powerful reminder of the unpredictability of Mother Nature—and the importance of always putting safety first.
