Shocking footage has captured the moment a Delta Airlines flight crash-landed in Toronto on Monday (February 17) and inexplicably ended up upside down.
Flight 4819, which departed from Minneapolis, Minnesota, flipped over while attempting to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada.
The aircraft was carrying 80 people in total—76 passengers and four crew members—and all were safely evacuated, officials confirmed.
However, at least 18 individuals sustained injuries and were transported to the hospital.
According to medical transport service Ornge, three of them are in critical condition, The Independent reports.
Their identities have not been disclosed yet, but reports indicate the injured include a child, a woman in her 40s, and a man in his 60s.
A video of the plane’s landing in Canada is making rounds on Twitter after being posted by the user ‘airmainengineer.’
The footage shows the aircraft touching down before its rear erupts into a burst of flames and thick smoke.
As it moves down the runway, a trail of smoke lingers in its wake.
After witnessing the shocking incident, many online users expressed amazement that everyone on board made it out alive.
“Goodness….this must be one of the craziest things seen,” one person commented after watching the footage, while another wrote, “That is insane! So glad everyone survived!”
In an official statement, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed: “The NTSB is leading a team of U.S. investigators to assist the Transportation Safety Board of Canada with their investigation of today’s accident of a Delta Air Lines Bombardier CRJ900 at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Delta CEO Ed Bastian addressed the situation, telling The Independent: “The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident at Toronto-Pearson International Airport.
“I want to express my thanks to the many Delta and Endeavor team members and the first responders on site.”
A recording from LiveATC.net captured an exchange between an air traffic controller and the pilots of the Delta flight moments before the crash. The controller instructed: “Endeavor Air 4819. Turn right heading 210. Descent to 3,000. Cleared ILS 23 approach.”
A pilot responded: “Alright heading 210. Down to 3,000. Cleared through the ILS, 23. Endeavor 4819.”
Shortly after, air traffic control warned of wind speeds at ’27’ with gusts reaching ’33,’ noting that while the aircraft was ‘cleared to land Runway 23,’ it ‘may get a slight bump’ due to turbulence and that another plane would be landing ahead of it.
Moments later, the crash occurred, with a voice confirming the plane had ‘crashed’ and that emergency crews were ‘needed.’
