New footage shows Delta plane flipping over in fiery crash landing in Toronto
Newly released footage of the fiery plane crash at Toronto’s Pearson Airport on Monday captures the dramatic moments when a Delta Air Lines jet skidded along the runway, flipped over, and burst into flames, with a wing tearing off and the tail engulfed in fire. The incident, which took place at Canada’s busiest airport, resulted in 21 people being hospitalized, including three in critical condition.
Shortly after the crash, mobile phone videos emerged, showing passengers escaping through the overturned aircraft’s doors into the freezing cold. Fire retardant filled the air as some passengers stood in shock in the snow, while others reacted with expletives amid the chaos. “Oh no, no, no, no, no,” a voice can be heard saying in one clip as the plane’s fuselage rolls over.
Two critically injured adults were airlifted to a nearby trauma center, while a child was transported by ambulance to a downtown Toronto hospital. In a social media update on Tuesday, Delta Air Lines confirmed that 19 of the injured had since been discharged from the hospital.
The flight, numbered 4819, was operated by Endeavor Air, a Delta subsidiary, and involved a Bombardier CRJ900 jet. It had departed from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and crashed while attempting to land in Toronto at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time. Air traffic control audio described the plane as “upside down and burning” shortly after impact, with passengers evacuating as thick black smoke billowed from the wreckage. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration reported that all 80 people on board had been safely evacuated.
Peter Carlson, a passenger on the flight, recounted the terrifying experience to the *Toronto Star*, describing the crash as feeling like he had “smacked into a wall” before being thrown sideways. After realizing he was unharmed, Carlson unbuckled his seatbelt, dropped to the ground, and sent a message to his wife: “I love you, and I love our kids.” He then assisted other passengers in exiting the plane.
Deborah Flint, CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, praised the crew’s response during a press conference on Tuesday, stating, “The crew on Delta flight 4819 heroically led passengers to safety, evacuating a jet that had overturned on the runway amid smoke and fire. I thank each and every one of these heroes.”
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Todd Aitken, the airport’s fire chief, emphasized the importance of avoiding speculation, noting that the runway was dry and there were no crosswind conditions at the time of the incident.
The crash occurred as Pearson Airport was already grappling with significant disruptions caused by a major snowstorm that hit the city on Sunday, leading to a backlog of delayed and canceled flights. By Tuesday morning, two of the airport’s five runways were still closed, further complicating operations.