The story behind the Ramstein disaster: what happened on that fateful August 28, 1988
Have you heard of the Ramstein air disaster? It was one of the worst plane crashes in history, which happened 35 years ago, on August 28, 1988, in Germany. That day, thousands of people went to watch an air show at the Ramstein military base, where the Italian aerobatic team Frecce Tricolori would put on an impressive performance. But something went wrong, and three jets collided in mid-air, causing an explosion and a rain of fire and debris on the audience. The result was tragic: 70 people died, including 67 spectators and 3 pilots, and more than 500 were injured, some with serious burns.
What caused this horrible accident? According to investigations, there was a coordination error in the maneuver called “cardioid”, which consisted of forming a heart in the sky with the planes. Two groups of planes were to cross at the bottom of the heart, while a lone plane crossed the heart towards the spectators. But the lone plane got too close to one of the groups, and collided with two planes, breaking them into pieces. The lone plane crashed into an ice cream truck, causing a fireball. One of the planes hit crashed into a medical helicopter, killing the pilot. The other plane hit fell onto the main runway, where the public was.
The Ramstein disaster was a negative milestone in the history of air shows, and generated a series of changes in safety and accident prevention regulations. The Frecce Tricolori suspended their performances for a year, and modified their maneuvers to avoid risks. Ramstein air base never again held an air show, and became a center for US military operations in Europe. The victims and their families received compensation and psychological support, but many still suffer from the physical and emotional consequences of the accident. The Ramstein disaster was a sad and shocking event that should never be forgotten.