A passenger captured and shared the harrowing moment they managed to escape from the Delta plane after it unexpectedly flipped upside-down upon landing.
A Delta Air Lines plane crashed and flipped upside-down while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on February 17.
The aircraft, carrying 80 people, had departed from Minneapolis earlier that day.
The terrifying incident grounded flights for over two hours as authorities launched an investigation.
Delta plane flips during landing in Toronto
The crash occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. local time.
The impact caused the aircraft to overturn on the runway, leaving passengers and crew in a state of shock.
Fortunately, all 76 passengers and four crew members were safely evacuated. However, 18 passengers sustained minor injuries.
Deborah Flint, CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, expressed relief over the outcome.
“We are very grateful there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries,” she stated.
Passenger captures dramatic evacuation
Several passengers shared footage of the terrifying moment they escaped the overturned plane.
One of them, Pete Koukov, posted a now-viral Instagram video documenting his evacuation.
In the video, a Delta flight attendant instructs passengers to “drop everything” as they exit.
Outside, people wait to assist those climbing out. Walking away from the wreckage, Pete turns back to film the flipped aircraft, repeatedly exclaiming, “Holy f**k.”
He captioned his post, “Being alive feels pretty cool today.” The video quickly gained traction, receiving over 3.7 million likes.
Social media reacts to the shocking footage
The video’s comment section was flooded with reactions from stunned viewers.
This is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen, one user wrote.
Another added: I would have already passed away from a panic attack.
Many praised the flight attendants for their quick response.
This is when we all realize what flight attendants actually do, one person commented
Another added: Bless them for their service and prayers for the injured.
Others simply expressed relief that Pete and the other passengers made it out alive.
Delta CEO responds to the crash
Following the incident, Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued a statement.
“The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident at Toronto Pearson International Airport,” he said.
He also thanked the airline staff and first responders for their swift action. “We are working to confirm the details and will share the most current information as soon as it becomes available,” he added.
Ongoing investigation into the crash.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. Two runways at the airport remain closed as authorities gather evidence.
For now, passengers and crew are left grateful to have survived a terrifying ordeal.