Toccara Steele was still shaking Friday night.
Steele
“It was scary as I don’t know what,” the Omaha woman said. “I’m still pacing.”
It was a shock. Steele said she had just glanced out and saw that it had stopped raining. The sun had appeared.
“The next minute it was a thunderstorm with lightning and hail bouncing off the plane,” she said. “The plane was rocking back and forth. It was absolutely crazy. That is when we saw the tornado.”
The plane had landed about 4:45 p.m. but waited to pull up to the terminal until about 6 p.m. because of the storm. The airport had closed for about an hour while officials assessed the damage. The terminal was not hit but the nearby general aviation area on the east side of the airport was damaged.
Steele said passengers knew something was going on with the weather because their phones started sounding off with alerts after the United Airlines flight from Denver landed. They had started the day in Los Angeles.
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Steele said people were checking in with family and friends about what was happening outside.
Toccara Steele said it went from sunny to thunderstorms, with the plane rocking before the tornado appeared.
“It wasn’t a bad atmosphere,” she said. “Realistically, I was praying at one point. We were all scared.”
Steele said that the crew on the United flight was so professional and did such a good job communicating about what was happening that it helped everyone remain as calm as possible.
It took just a few minutes for the plane to reach the terminal after the storm passed.
She still can’t believe it actually happened.
“It feels like an out-of-body experience,” she said.
Photos and videos: Tornadoes, severe storms hit Omaha and Lincoln metro areas
A tornado damaged houses near 212th Street and Fowler Ave in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Justin and Amanda Putnam's bedroom is blown out after a severe storm damaged their neighborhood near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Neighbors clean up Justin and Amanda Putnam's home after a severe storm blew through their bedroom, photographed with a drone near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Linda Kolhof, 66, looks over severe storm damage outside her home near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Firefighters assess the damages to houses after a tornado severely damaged several near near 212th Street and Fowler Avenue i in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
A tornado is seen on the ground near north of Waverly, Neb. on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Severe weather damage to Eppley Airfield can be seen from the Lewis and Clark Monument in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Severe weather damage to Eppley Airfield can be seen from the Lewis and Clark Monument in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
A piece of wood is embedded in the ground as firefighters assess the damages to houses after a tornado severely damaged several near 212th Street and Fowler Avenue in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Gopala Penmetsa walks past his house near 212th Street and Fowler Avenue after it was leveled by a tornado in Omaha, Neb. on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Jim Huff, 53, breaks down fallen trees after a severe storm hit his neighborhood near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Justin and Amanda Putnam's bedroom is blown out after a severe storm damaged their neighborhood near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Justin Putnam, 48, looks over the damage in his home after his bedroom was blown out after a severe storm damaged his neighborhood near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Robert Keesee helps his father, Randy Keesee, up a ladder to access roof damage to a home he owns after a severe storm hit the neighborhood near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Harold Huff, 83, looks over severe storm damage near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Neighbors clean up Justin and Amanda Putnam's home after a severe storm blew through their bedroom, photographed with a drone near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Jim Huff, 53, was past a tree limb caught in a power line after a severe storm hit his neighborhood near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
A tree limb is caught in a swing set after a severe storm hit a neighborhood near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Rhonda Huff, 53, looks over severe storm damage in her backyard near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Severe storm damage near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Robert Keesee accesses roof damage to a home he owns after a severe storm hit the neighborhood near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Neighbors access severe storm damage near 32nd Street and Avenue K in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Kohen Filter takes a moment after he was in a house that was severely damaged by a tornado near 212th Street and Fowler Avenue in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Firefighters assess the damages to houses after a tornado severely damaged several near near 212th Street and Fowler Avenue i in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Clouds move over downtown Omaha as tornado warning sirens sound on Friday, April 26, 2024.
A tornado damaged houses near 212th Street and Fowler Ave in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
A tornado is seen on the ground near north of Waverly, Neb. on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Emergency crews respond after severe weather storms impacted Lincoln on Friday, April 26, 2024.
A tornado is seen on the ground near north of Waverly, Neb. on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Damage is visible to a house near 212th Street and Fowler Avenue after a tornado caused damage in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Damage is visible to a houses near 212th Street and Fowler Avenue after a tornado caused damage in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Damage is visible to a house near 212th Street and Fowler Avenue after a tornado caused damage in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Damage is visible to a house near 212th Street and Fowler Avenue after a tornado caused damage in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Emergency crews respond after severe weather storms impacted Lincoln on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Emergency crews respond after severe weather storms impacted Lincoln on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Storm clouds move over Eppley Airfield and downtown Omaha, seen from the Lewis and Clark Monument in Council Bluffs, on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Severe weather damage to Eppley Airfield can be seen from the Lewis and Clark Monument in Council Bluffs on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Emergency crews respond after severe weather storms impacted Lincoln on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Emergency crews respond after severe weather storms impacted Lincoln on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Emergency crews respond after severe weather storms impacted Lincoln on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Emergency crews respond after severe weather storms impacted Lincoln on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Trees down at 9112 N. 186th St. Blocking the road.
Funnel cloud seen looking southwest from Elkhorn North High School.
Photos of the damage near Elkhorn, Nebraska.
Photos of the damage near Elkhorn, Nebraska.
Photos of the damage near Elkhorn, Nebraska.
Photos of the damage near Elkhorn, Nebraska.
A house in Bennington, Nebraska.
The roof of a car wash blew off and hit several cars near Avenue A and 35th Street in Council Bluffs.
Damage is visible to a house near 212th Street and Fowler Avenue after a tornado caused damage in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Gopala Penmetsa walks past damages houses near 212th Street and Fowler Avenue in Omaha, Neb. on Friday, April 26, 2024. His house was leveled.
Tree falls on a house near 211th and Maple Streets.
Tree falls on a house near 211th and Maple Streets.
Greg Nelson (left) and Brandon Tubbs try to prevent more water on a ripped off roof near Appaloosa Drive and Ramble Wood Drive.
Greg Nelson and Brandon Tubbs try to prevent more water on a ripped off roof near Appaloosa Drive and Ramble Wood Drive.
Destroyed houses in the Elkhorn area.
Don Bacon speaks with residents after tornadoes struck the Omaha metro.
Damage at Featherstone Apartments in northern Council Bluffs.
Damage at Featherstone Apartments in northern Council Bluffs.
Train cars are seen derailed along Cornhusker Road in Lincoln after a tornado on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Damage is seen to houses on West Maple Road near North 216th Street after a tornado in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Damage is seen to houses on Arabian Road after a tornado in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Damage is seen to houses on Arabian Road after a tornado in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Water sprays from a home on Arabian Road after a tornado in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
A look inside a bedroom inside a home severely damaged by a tornado in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Damage is seen after a tornado tore through a neighborhood in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Damage is seen to homes along Old Coach Road after a tornado in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
A wheelbarrow is seen lodged in a damaged tree after a tornado destroyed or damaged dozens of homes along Appaloosa Drive and Old Coach Road in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Jeannie Brown's brick home on 186th Street north of State Street southwest of Bennington escaped major damage, but nearly every tree in her yard was damaged.
Damaged is seen after a tornado destroyed or damaged dozens of homes along Old Coach Road in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Families sift through the damage from a tornado along Arabian Road in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
An Omaha police officer sifts through damage to a home on Old Coach Road from a tornado in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Terry Kicking sifts through the damage after a tornado destroyed his home in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Jeff Schroyer spray paints a check-mark on his home after it was severely damaged by a tornado in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Omaha police officers search a home for a family after a tornado destroyed or damaged dozens in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024. The family was contacted by neighbors eventually and were all accounted for.
Omaha police officers search a home for a family after a tornado destroyed or damaged dozens in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024. The family was contacted by neighbors eventually and were all accounted for.
A police helicopter circles overhead as emergency personnel continue to search through the path of a tornado in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
The side of a home on Ramblewood Drive is seen torn off after a tornado in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Families sift through the destruction from a tornado in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
A rainbow is seen above the destruction of a tornado along Old Coach Road in Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024.
The Backlund family saw the tornado coming from their backyard and took shelter in a basement bathroom. "The whole back side of the house is gone," Kellie Backlund said.
The Backlund family saw the tornado coming from their backyard and took shelter in a basement bathroom. "The whole back side of the house is gone," Kellie Backlund said.
Enoch Nda rode out the tornado in the basement of his parents' home at Woodlands Crossing in Bennington. He took shelter after he saw "about five funnels" approaching the neighborhood from the southwest.
Members of the Elwood family and their friends examine the wreckage of their home southwest of Bennington.
The Elwood family took shelter in the basement of their home in the Woodlands Crossing neighborhood southwest of Bennington. Afterwards, members of their church stood with the family in their driveway and thanked God for their safety.
Fallen trees blocked several roads in the hard-hit area southwest of Bennington. Neighbors pitched in to clear them, as these two men did on 186th north of State Street.
Every house on North 182nd Circle in Woodlands Crossing sustained damage, but none worse than this house at the end of the cul-de-sac. The family, who requested anonymity, survived unhurt despite the devastation to their home.
