John Nelson was one of 79 passengers on a “typical” flight between Minneapolis and Toronto on Monday. Their Delta Airlines flight was hit by turbulence and crashed onto its roof, at Toronto Pearson Airport. All 80 passengers on the plane survived, despite 17 injuries.
Nelson said to CNN’s Brianna Kiilar, “Gladly everyone was OK.” “It was mass chaos…It’s an emotional rollercoaster that you go through, but it’s things you hope you don’t see again.” Investigations are underway to find out the exact cause of the accident.
Context of Flight
Endeavor Air operated the flight, a regional carrier and a subsidiary wholly-owned by Delta Air Lines. The aircraft used was a Mitsubishi CRJ900LR. The dramatic video footage showed the jetliner overturned on the snowy runway, while emergency crews were actively working. Everyone on the plane survived, and this is hailed by many as a miracle.
The incident is one of several recent accidents that have occurred in North America. This tragedy has raised the issue of air travel safety. It also highlights the importance for thorough investigations to be conducted into each incident.
- February 29th A collision between a commercial jetliner, and an Army helicopter near the capital of the country resulted in 67 deaths
- February 31 In Philadelphia, a medical transport aircraft crashed and all six passengers onboard as well as one on the ground were tragically killed.
- The 6th of February is a day to celebrate. The plane crash which killed 10 people in Alaska.
Delta Airlines Flight Crash: Eyewitness account
Nelson described the emotional turmoil he felt after the accident as “stressed, anxious, and shaken.”
Nelson described what happened in the minutes leading up the accident: “I did notice when we were coming into the airport that the wind gusts were very strong, and that snow had been blown across the runways. Coming in was a routine but there was an obvious oddity about the condition of the runways,” Nelson stated. The impact was extremely hard. “I believe that we skidded sideways and flipped backwards on our back.”
The official cause of this accident is still unknown, but adverse weather conditions have been considered as one possible contributing factor. Meteorological Service of Canada reports blowing snow at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Winds reached 32 mph with gusts of up to 40 mph. At the time of crash, the ambient temperature was 16.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nelson, seated near the front row of the plane in the approximate row 10, vividly recalls the immediate aftermath: “It was so quick,” he said. “I just tried to hold onto everything.” I was upside-down.”
In his account, he described how the seat belts of him and two women sitting next to them suspended both upside down. They released their seatbelts in a split second and fell to the ceiling. The passengers were quickly evacuated safely from the aircraft.
Nelson added, “It smelled just like jet-fuel.” Even now, I smell like jet fuel.”
Nelson continued: “When it settled down, Nelson described a fire ball followed by a second explosion that firefighters could reach quickly.
Nelson, who spoke for all aboard the ship when he said “It is amazing we are still here”, expressed an opinion likely to be shared by those present.
The reaction to the Pearson International Airport near fatality incident
Public officials, as well as the aviation industry have responded to this incident. They expressed their relief that no one was killed and underlined the importance of safety.
Captain CB Sullenberger is a former US Airways captain and he was on CNN. I’m glad to hear that all the survivors and their families are safe. This is a testament to the work done so far.
Delta on X (formerly Twitter): “YYZ was shut down shortly after the incident. Delta is trying to reach out to customers flying from, through or to YYZ. Customers should use the Fly Delta mobile app to monitor flight status. Endeavor Air, a fully owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines with headquarters in Minneapolis,”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s electorate, which represents Toronto (the capital of Ontario), is on X.
The incident at Toronto Pearson was a relief. The provincial officials have been in contact with local and airport authorities, and they will offer any assistance that is needed.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has X: Delta has contacted me after an aircraft that was taking off at MSP crashed landed this afternoon in Toronto. “Thankful for the professionals and first responders on the scene.”
The Association of Flight Attendants in X Our union has responded to an incident that occurred in Toronto on Delta Air Lines Endeavor flight 4819. AFA staff were on board this flight. There are reports that there were no deaths. “Please do not make any assumptions about this incident, as we are all working to collect information and provide support for those affected.”
Investigating the ongoing crash
Transportation Safety Board of Canada launched a comprehensive investigation of the Endeavor Air crash 4819 on Toronto Pearson International Airport. This investigation involves gathering flight data, interviewing passengers and crew, and analysing weather conditions, among other things. It is important to understand the cause of the Toronto Pearson accident. This will allow for recommendations aimed at prevention of similar incidents.
This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the risks inherent in air travel, and of the need to continuously improve aviation safety protocols and standards. It is expected that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s (TSB) ongoing investigation will provide useful insights into the events surrounding the accident, and hopefully help prevent similar incidents.