A Delta Airlines plane crashed and flipped while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on February 17. Fortunately, all 76 passengers and four crew members survived the harrowing incident. Eighteen people sustained injuries, with only a few reported to be more serious.
“We are very grateful there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries,” said Deborah Flint, CEO of Greater Toronto Airports Authority.
One of the passengers, John Nelson, recalled the terrifying experience. Speaking to ABC News, he described the harsh weather conditions: “The winds were whipping pretty hard, and the runways were snow-covered. There was no warning.” He recounted how the plane hit the ground “extremely hard,” bounced, leaned left, and then flipped upside down.
“It was just incredibly fast. There was a giant firewall down the side. I could actually feel the heat through the glass,” Nelson shared. “Then we were going sideways. I’m not even sure how many times we tumbled.”
He told CNN that after the crash, panic set in as passengers shouted, “Get out! Get out! Get out!” The smell of jet fuel filled the air, adding to the urgency.
Miraculously, everyone was evacuated before the aircraft caught fire. “The fact this plane did not explode in flames because of the amount of jet fuel is nothing short of a miracle,” one person commented online.
Thankfully, this frightening event ended with all lives saved.
