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Delta plane crash: Survivors recount harrowing moments - ‘We were … hanging like Bats’
- Passengers of Delta Flight 4819 recounted terrifying moments as their aircraft flipped mid-landing at Toronto Pearson Airport, erupting in flames. Survivors described hanging upside down before scrambling to escape. Despite 18 injuries, no fatalities were reported.
Passengers aboard Delta Flight 4819 experienced sheer terror as their aircraft flipped mid-landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport, slamming into the runway and erupting in flames. Survivors described the moments of panic, desperation, and unity as they hung upside down in their seats before scrambling to escape. Their firsthand accounts shed light on the dramatic emergency landing and the emotional toll it left behind.
Delta Flight 4819 departed from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport on Monday and approached Toronto Pearson International Airport shortly after 2 p.m. local time. Strong winds buffeted Toronto throughout the day, with air traffic controllers warning pilots of wind gusts reaching 38 mph.
Within two minutes of the approach, the aircraft flipped. A fire erupted as the plane tumbled and slammed into the runway. Passengers John Nelson and Peter Koukov, spoke with CNN, and described the terrifying moments when the plane overturned, leaving them suspended in their seats.
‘We were … hanging like Bats’
“When we got finished, I was upside down, everybody else was there as well,” Nelson said. “We tried to get out of there as quickly as possible.”
Fire engines raced onto the tarmac, spraying thick sheets of white fire retardant over the aircraft’s battered fuselage.
Another survivor Koukov recalled the eerie stillness after the plane stopped moving. “We were upside down hanging like bats,” he said. He managed to unbuckle himself and stand upright on the ceiling of the plane, but said many others needed assistance to get down from their seats.
Panic and urgency to escape
Nelson described the scene as chaotic, with passengers scrambling to release themselves from their belts. “People were yelling for them to get out of the plane, and they made a beeline towards an opening,” he recounted.
Peter Carlson, another passenger, shared his thoughts on the immediate aftermath. “It was cement and metal,” he told CBC. “The absolute initial feeling is just need to get out of this.”
Despite the panic, Carlson noted a sense of unity among passengers. “What I saw was everyone on that plane suddenly became very close, in terms of how to help one another, how to console one another,” he said. “That was powerful, but there was definite: ‘What now? Who is leading? How do we find ourselves away from this?’”
Aftermath and emotional toll
Although some passengers sustained injuries, Nelson said most seemed physically unharmed. However, the emotional impact lingered. “I was left stressed and shaky following the few seconds it took for the plane to turn over,” he admitted.
Authorities continue to investigate the crash, while survivors process the traumatic experience of Delta Flight 4819’s dramatic emergency landing.
Delta Flight 4819 crash-lands in Toronto: No fatalities reported
Plane flips after landing
A Delta Air Lines regional jet lost control after landing in Toronto amid strong winds and freezing conditions, skidding along the runway before coming to rest upside down. The aircraft lost its tail and one of its wings during the crash.
Passengers and crew on board
The Endeavor Air-operated Flight 4819 was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members, totaling 80 people. The aircraft was flying from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport when the accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time on Monday.
Injuries reported, no fatalities
Emergency services confirmed that 18 people sustained injuries, with three in critical condition. Despite the severity of the crash, no fatalities have been reported.
Emergency response and scene
The plane came to rest on its back on the snowy runway as temperatures remained well below freezing. Rescue services immediately responded, spraying water and fire retardant on the aircraft. The plane’s underside was scraped and blackened from the impact.
Ongoing investigation
Delta stated that initial reports showed no fatalities and assured that further details would be provided as investigations continue. Authorities are assessing the crash to determine the cause and evaluate the response measures taken.
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Business NewsNewsWorldDelta plane crash: Survivors recount harrowing moments - ‘We were … hanging like Bats’
First Published:18 Feb 2025, 05:49 PM IST
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