Delta Flight 191 crash survivor recounts fateful day

The crash of Delta Flight 191 at DFW Airport claimed more than 100 lives 32 years ago Wednesday. After all this time, one of the people who made it out alive is ready to share his story of survival.

Richard Laver was 12-years-old when the plane crashed at DFW. He was one of 27 survivors from the crash of the Delta plane.

"Being back in Dallas is really a triumph for me,” Laver told FOX4 on Wednesday.

Laver was aboard the plane heading to a tennis tournament with his dad. 44-year old Ian Laver was one of the 137 people killed. Richard said they were sitting right where the aircraft split apart.

"I was thrown out of the plane 300 miles an hour, 50 yards in the air – everyone on my row died.”

Laver says his physical injuries healed faster than his emotional ones.

"Every survivor asks themselves why, why am I here? In fact everyone asks themselves that question after a while, it’s part of the maturation process,” Laver said. “I found my reason.”

Laver believes he survived to help save and care for his disabled daughter, who was born nearly 2 decades after the crash.

Kate Laver is now 11 and lives with cerebral palsy. When she was 5-years-old she weighed just 15 pounds. It turned out she had intolerance to the liquid diet she was on, that included dairy and allergens.

Richard and his wife began working on an alternative, and Laver’s creation is now a successful supplement called Kate Farms.

Ironically, the place that devastated his life 32 years ago is currently the market in which Laver’s products are doing the best.

"All of the things from the plane accident really resulted in the determination to make a difference,” Laver said.