(Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A Delta aircraft from Minneapolis to Canada ended in a crash while landing at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday (February 17). Shocking photos and footage showing the plane flipped upside down are going viral on social media after messages from passengers to loved ones.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect Delta’s announcement about compensation for the impacted passengers. Keep reading to see the update.
ABC News reports that Delta Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, caught fire after flipping upside down on the snowy ground. Video footage shows the twin-jet aircraft’s rear landing gear giving out. Additionally, its right wing was torn off and caught on fire after the plane crash-landed. It skidded on its belly briefly, then flipped over. One passenger told CNN that folks on board didn’t know what was happening until they hit the ground. Another passenger, John Nelson, told the outlet that the scene was “mass chaos.”
“We tried to get out of there as quickly as possible,” John said. “Even now I smell like jet fuel.”
There were 76 passengers and four crew members on board, and officials safely evacuated everyone. At this time, news outlets haven’t announced any deaths. However, at least 21 people suffered a range of injuries. One child, a woman in her 40s, and a man in his 60s are in critical condition, per ABC News. CNN reports that the child’s condition has improved. Twelve others also received hospital treatment for non-life-threatening to mild injuries. However, Delta announced that some hospitalized patients have already been released.
On Monday, the airport reportedly shut down until 4:30 p.m. local time, and flights were redirected to Montral-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. However, CNN reports that two runways at Toronto Pearson International Airport will remain closed for now. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the National Transportation Safety Board in the US are still investigating what caused the crash. Still, strong winds up to 38 mph and snowy conditions were present on the ground in Toronto then.
ABC News reports that Delta is now offering financial compensation to passengers impacted by the intense incident. The airline is reportedly shelling out up to $30,000 per person. Additionally, reps for the company’s customer service line will not affect the passengers’ rights, and there are no strings attached to the offer. It’s unclear if the four crew members are also eligible.
