Delta Flight 4819 crashed and overturned on February 17 at approximately 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time while attempting to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada after departing from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The aircraft was carrying 80 people, including 76 passengers and four crew members. Officials confirmed that all passengers were successfully evacuated, though at least 18 were hospitalized with injuries. Pearson CEO Deborah Flint expressed relief, stating: “We are very grateful there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries.”
However, according to medical transport provider Ornge, three individuals sustained critical injuries, as reported by The Independent. Delta News Hub released a statement on Twitter, saying: “Initial reports indicate no fatalities. Several customers with injuries were transported to area hospitals. Our primary focus is taking care of those impacted.”
Passengers Share Their Experience
Several passengers took to social media to document the terrifying incident.
Ashley Zook, one of the passengers, posted a Snapchat video from inside the overturned plane, still strapped into her seat, with the caption: “My plane crashed. I’m upside down.”She can also be heard exclaiming: “What the f**k.”
After being evacuated, she recorded another video showing herself and other passengers standing outside near the aircraft, now resting upside down on the ground. “I was just in a plane crash. Oh my God,” she says in footage shared by CBC.
Another passenger, John Nelson, posted a video on Facebook, stating: “The jet crashed and is upside down. Most people are going to be OK. We’re all getting off, there’s some smoke.”
Investigation Underway
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is leading the investigation into the crash.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has sent a team of U.S. investigators to assist. “Per international protocols under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Annex 13, any information about the investigation will be released by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada,” the FAA stated.
