Videos show terrifying new angles of Delta plane crash at Toronto Pearson Airport

The Delta plane crash that rocked Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday has made headlines around the globe, with shocking footage from bystanders, security, and passengers continuing to emerge over the last 21 hours.

Clips shared widely across social media have revealed various different perspectives of the catastrophic incident, which happened to Delta Air Lines flight 4819 (operated by Endeavor Air) around 2:30 p.m. amid extremely high winds.

The plane, a model CRJ-900 inbound from Minneapolis, somehow ended up bursting into flames, losing a wing and flipping completely upside down, which made for some astonishing and terrifying visuals on what was the Family Day holiday in Ontario.

Videos from the scene

A video from one person who was aboard the jet accompanied many early reports of the emergency, with the individual narrating, breathless, “We’re in Toronto, we just landed. Our plane crashed, it’s upside down. Fire department’s on site. Upside down…”

The clearly rattled traveller added that “Most people appear to be okay. We’re all getting off, there’s some smoke going on” as he backed away from the wreckage on the snowy, windswept tarmac.

A second recording came from a traveller who took their phone out as they were still inside the upturned aircraft, showing their point of view as they climbed across the plane’s ceiling and were ushered out an emergency exit by a flight attendant.

More recently, CCTV footage with a view of the runway was leaked by California-based celebrity news outlet TMZ, showing the moment of horror when the plane bounced on the concrete and erupted into a smokey fireball.

Another, far clearer view from elsewhere on the tarmac — apparently shot by airport personnel working on the ground — shows what at first appeared to be a normal landing. That is, until the wheels actually touched down.

Almost immediately, the plane was thrown off-kilter, tilting to the right as its righthand wing dragged on the ground in a fiery mess.

After a few bumps, the fuselage was seen flipping upside down as it continued to drag across the runway, plumes of dark smoke behind it. The filmer reacted in absolute terror, repeating “Oh my god,” “Oh no no no no no” and various expletives, incredulous.

Firsthand accounts

Accounts from those who experienced the ordeal firsthand are also now rolling in.

“All of a sudden, I just remember being fully sideways and seeing sparks and flames and whatever was grinding against the ground… it happened pretty dang quick and we were just hanging upside down by our seatbelts,” one passenger, who called the scene “frantic but organized,” told the Today show.

Another person who claims to have been on flight 4819 even took to Reddit to answer questions from the public in the platform’s famous “ask me anything” format on Monday evening.

“I’m safe, healthy and only slightly in shock at a hotel near the airport,” they explained.

In various responses, they detailed how they felt concerned that they were “getting tossed around by the wind a lot” before the plane hit the ground, and also the state of despair, fear, and confusion that went on inside the cabin — along with the smell of jet fuel — as things happened.

“Those of us who were able unbuckled ourselves and helped everyone around us,” they wrote, adding that the two flight attendants did “the best they could” to aid the 76 passengers. 

Responses and result

According to the most recent reports, three people, including one child, are in hospital with critical injuries as a result of the crash. Delta Air Lines said 21 in total were taken to be assessed at local emergency rooms. There were no fatalities.

“The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident… I want to express my thanks to the many Delta and Endeavor team members and the first responders on site,” the airline’s CEO said in a statement around 10:30 p.m. last night.

“We are working to confirm the details and will share the most current information as soon as it becomes available.  In the meantime, please take care and stay safe.” 

Mayor Olivia Chow added that she was “relieved to learn that all passengers and crew are accounted for after today’s plane crash at Toronto Pearson. Thank you to the first responders, crew and airport staff for their quick actions and commitment to keeping everyone safe.”