John Nelson, a passenger on the Delta Airlines flight that crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on February 17, has shared his harrowing experience of the incident. The flight, carrying 76 passengers and four crew members, flipped upside down upon landing, leaving everyone suspended in their seats. Miraculously, all on board survived, though 18 people were reported injured.
John described the moments leading up to the crash as seemingly routine, despite the strong winds and snowy conditions. “It was a normal flight until we approached the runway,” he told CNN. “I noticed the winds were intense, and the runways looked a bit unusual because of the snow.”
The real chaos began when the plane touched down. “The impact was extremely hard,” John recalled. “We skidded sideways, rolled over, and ended up upside down.” He vividly remembered the terrifying sight of a fireball on the left side of the plane and the overwhelming smell of jet fuel. “It was mass chaos,” he said. “Everyone was yelling, ‘Get out! Get out!’”
Despite the panic, John praised the quick response of the firefighters, who arrived immediately and helped everyone evacuate safely. Many have called the survival of all passengers and crew a miracle, especially given the risk of the plane exploding due to the jet fuel.
