The 80 people onboard the Delta Air Lines flight that crashed and flipped upside down in Toronto yesterday were safely evacuated, but an investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

Yesterday (February 17) at around 3.30pm Eastern time, Delta Air Lines Flight 4819 crashed and flipped upside down while trying to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada, after taking off from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

There were 80 people onboard the Bombardier CRJ-900 plane – 76 passengers and four members of crew – with officials reporting every person was safely evacuated. However, at least 18 were transported to hospital with injuries.

 
The Delta Airlines plane ended up flipped on its roof (GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images)

Moments before the Delta Air Lines Flight 4819 crash

A recording from ‘LiveATC.net’ revealed an air traffic controller in conversation with the Delta Air Lines plane’s pilots prior to the crash, with the controller stating: “Endeavor Air 4819. Turn right heading 210. Descent to 3,000. Cleared ILS 23 approach.”

Another voice responds: “Alright heading 210. Down to 3,000. Cleared through the ILS, 23. Endeavor 4819.”

However, air traffic control then warns of winds measuring ’27’ and gusts ’33’ adding despite the plane being ‘cleared to land Runway 23,’ it ‘may get a slight bump’ and ‘there will be an aircraft in front of it’.

After another comment approving the plane as being ‘clear to land,’ the next comment is from the ‘other pilot’ who states: “We need crash fire rescue on the runway.”

A voice confirms the plane has ‘crashed’ and emergency services are ‘needed’, to which air traffic control reassures: “Yeah, we’re on it. We got someone coming out.”
Passenger Ashley Zook shared footage from inside the plane (Snapchat/Ashley Zook)

Moments after the crash landing in Toronto

Audio from air traffic control between a controller and pilot of a nearby Medevac flight sees the controller state: “LifeFlight 1, Medevac, just so you are aware, there are people outside walking around the aircraft there.”

The Medevac pilot confirms it’s seen the crash, adding: “The aircraft is upside down and burning.”

Passengers took to social media to speak out about the crash, one sharing footage after evacuating the plane and another from inside the jet, moments after it flipped upside down.

A passenger called Ashley Zook took to Snapchat to share a video of herself inside the plane still in her seat alongside the caption: “My plane crashed. I’m upside down.”

She can be heard saying: “What the f**k.”

Zook then shared a video once safely evacuated from the aircraft, showing the plane upside down on the ground and other passengers around her.”I was just in a plane crash. Oh my God,” she says, the video shared by CBC.

Another passenger named John Nelson also took to social media, sharing a video to Facebook to explain the plane ‘crashed’ and is ‘upside down’ and there are officials on site.

“Most people are going to be OK, we’re all getting off, there’s some smoke going on,” he narrates.

Indeed, Pearson CEO Deborah Flint confirmed yesterday evening: “We are very grateful there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries.”

The evacuation of passengers

Three people are reported as suffering critical injuries, according to medical transport company Ornge, The Independent reports.

Their identities have not yet been publicly released, however, they are reported as being a child, woman in her 40s and man in his 60s.

Delta News Hub added in a statement shared to Twitter: “Initial reports were that there are no fatalities. Several customers with injuries were transported to area hospitals.

“Our primary focus is taking care of those impacted.”
All 80 people onboard were safely evacuated (Facebook/ John Nelson)

An investigation has been launched

An investigation into the incident is being led by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement: “The NTSB is leading a team of U.S. investigators to assist the Transportation Safety Board of Canada with their investigation of today’s accident of a Delta Air Lines Bombardier CRJ900 at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

“Per international protocols under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Annex 13, any information about the investigation will be released by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.”

Multiple experts have since spoken out stating they believe the weather played a key role in the crash.

And Delta Air Lines’ CEO has since released a statement too.

What Delta Air Lines has said about the crash

Delta CEO Ed Bastian said, as quoted by The Independent: “?The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident at Toronto-Pearson International Airport.

“I want to express my thanks to the many Delta and Endeavor team members and the first responders on site.”