Passengers aboard a New York-bound Delta Air Lines flight witnessed a terrifyingly close look at nature’s fury on Thursday as their aircraft skirted a massive tornado that devastated parts of northern Oklahoma.
Dramatic smartphone footage recorded from the cabin of Delta Flight DL1719 shows the swirling vortex of a “life-threatening” tornado as it tore through the ground near Vance Air Force Base. The video, which has since gone viral, captures the cell from an altitude of approximately 33,000 feet.
A South Flight Path
The aircraft, an Airbus A321neo (registration: N514DE), was en route from Seattle (SEA) to New York (JFK) when it encountered the rapidly developing supercell. Flight tracking data shows that pilots took unusual flight path, deviating significantly south of the standard flight path to maintain a safe distance from the storm’s core.
“The pilot came over the intercom and mentioned they were monitoring a ‘significant weather event’ over Oklahoma,” said one passenger. “When we looked out the window, the entire sky turned a deep, bruised purple, and you could clearly see the funnel cloud touching down. It was both beautiful and absolutely terrifying.”
The flight eventually landed safely at John F. Kennedy International Airport at 1:05 AM EDT with a 45 minute delay.
Damage at Vance Air Force Base
While the passengers of DL1719 watched from above, the situation on the ground was dire. The tornado made a direct hit on the outskirts of Enid, impacting Vance Air Force Base.
Local emergency crews in Enid remain in search-and-rescue mode this morning, as at least 10 injuries have been confirmed in the surrounding Garfield County area.
