The plane crash in Toronto that injured 18 people, three critically, has left shocking images. In a video posted by News Channel 3 Now, the Delta Airlines plane can be seen destroyed and upside down on a snowy runway as passengers run away from it. Canadian media like the Toronto Sun speak of a "miracle" as, despite what could have happened, all 80 passengers survived.
Several travelers have shared their experience on social media after living through this dramatic accident during the landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport. "Leave everything, let's go," a flight attendant can be heard saying while helping evacuate the plane quickly in a video posted on Instagram by skier and influencer Peter Koukov, who was on board. Later, he told CNN how the experience was from inside: "We were upside down, hanging like bats," he recounted, referring to the distressing moments just before being evacuated.
Another passenger, John Nelson, posted a video on his Facebook account saying that most people seemed to be "okay." "We skidded on our side and then flipped upside down," he later told the same network, where he mentioned that passengers saw a "big fireball" out the left side window of the plane.
He mentioned that it was difficult to release the seatbelt while upside down, a task that some passengers needed help with. Difficult moments were experienced where generosity among them emerged as they helped each other. This is also recounted by another person on board, Pete Carlson, who spoke to the Canadian network CBC: "Everyone on the plane was very united, in terms of how they helped or comforted each other."
In some videos shared on social media, people can be seen upside down, in the dark, trying to free themselves from their seats. Ashly Zook, who posted images on her Snapchat account, is one example. "My plane crashed. I'm upside down," she managed to say. Later, after exiting the aircraft, she is visibly affected saying, "Oh my God."
The exact cause of the accident is not yet known. However, leaked conversations from the control tower to some media outlets indicate that controllers warned the Delta plane that there could be possible turbulence during landing due to another aircraft.
Despite Toronto experiencing heavy snowfall since last Thursday, leading to the cancellation of several flights, the weather conditions do not seem to be the cause of the accident.