On Monday, a Delta Air Lines flight departing from Minneapolis crashed at Toronto’s Pearson international Airport, flipping upside-down on the runway.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the flight, DL 4819, was carrying 80 people, all of whom made it out alive.
Now, some are speaking out about their harrowing ordeal.
John Nelson, one passenger, recounted to CNN that the plane’s occupants “tried to get out of there as quickly as possible.”
“We hit the ground and the plane went sideways and I believe we skidded on our side and flipped over on our back,” Nelson told the outlet. As the plane came to a halt, the passengers made a swift dash for the nearest exit. He described the scene as “mass chaos,” and like being on an “emotional rollercoaster.”
Richard Lautens via Getty Images
After Nelson escaped, he said, there was yet another explosion. Fortunately, he noted, firefighters were on hand to control the situation.
Another passenger, Peter Koukov, said people onboard were “hanging like bats” after the plane came to rest. He managed to unbuckle himself, but said others needed assistance.
Peter Carlson, also aboard the flight, told CBC News that the landing felt “forceful,” and his first instinct was “to get out of this.”
“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,” Carlson told the outlet. “That was powerful, but there was definite: ‘What now? Who is leading? How do we find ourselves away from this?’”
Katherine KY Cheng via Getty Images
CNN also reported that flight attendants played a key role in helping passengers escape, assisting them in crawling out through the open exit doors.
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This morning on X, formerly Twitter, Delta confirmed that “21 injured passengers were initially transported to local hospitals. As of Tuesday morning, 19 have been released.”
“Our most pressing priority remains taking care of all customers and Endeavor crew members who were involved,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “We’ll do everything we can to support them and their families in the days ahead, and I know the hearts, thoughts and prayers of the entire Delta community are with them.”
After the incident, Deborah Flint, CEO of Greater Toronto Airports Authority, said, “We are very grateful that there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries.”
