**Miracle of No Fatalities in US Plane Crash During Landing in Toronto**
“On the 17th (local time), a Delta Air Lines passenger plane overturned during landing at Toronto Airport, but all 80 passengers survived, earning it the label ‘miracle’. Experts attribute this miracle to the aircraft’s safety-oriented design and the rapid, calm response of the rescue teams and crew.”
The Delta Connection Flight 4819, arriving from Minneapolis, struck its right wing on the runway during landing, causing it to flip over. This resulted in some explosions, leaving passengers in shock.
The situation could have escalated into a major disaster, but the fire was quickly contained, and passengers were evacuated speedily, miraculously ensuring survival for all 80 onboard. Delta Air Lines reported that 21 passengers were hospitalized with injuries, and all but two were discharged by the next morning.
According to experts cited by the Washington Post, the miraculous survival outcome was thanks to the aircraft’s design that prioritizes safety as well as the swift, calm actions of the rescue teams and crew. Graham Braithwaite, head of the aviation sector at Cranfield University in the UK, noted that the absence of fatalities, despite the plane being inverted on the runway, speaks volumes about the aircraft’s design, the rescue team’s response, and the roles played by the crew.
Braithwaite highlighted several factors contributing to reducing risks during such overturn accidents: seats that remain attached to the floor, seatbelts made robustly, and surfaces designed to be soft so passengers aren’t severely injured when thrown forward.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that most passengers were securely protected by their seatbelts immediately after the crash. Passenger Pete Carlson shared in an interview with Canada’s CBC that he hung completely upside down until he personally unbuckled his seatbelt. Another passenger, John Nelson, recalled in an interview with CNN that he and others were upside down, held in place by their seatbelts.
Calm and efficient actions by the flight crew also played a critical role. Upon landing, when the aircraft overturned, passengers found themselves hanging upside down, with some struggling to unbuckle themselves due to extreme fear. Flight attendants navigated between overturned passengers, directing them to “leave everything behind and head to the emergency exits,” facilitating a rapid evacuation. Rescue workers assisted passengers exiting the emergency doors.
Braithwaite emphasized the importance of quick, simple instructions from the crew, such as “unbuckle your seatbelts,” to prevent passengers from panicking. “Even simple instructions can be challenging for someone in a panic state,” he noted.
Deborah Flint, CEO of Toronto Pearson Airport, praised the heroic actions of the airport’s trained experts and rescue teams, which ensured no fatalities. “The airport’s emergency response staff arrived at the scene within minutes and swiftly evacuated passengers,” she commented. Braithwaite added that while photos from the scene suggest a dire situation, the fortunate outcome is a testament to the tremendous efforts of all involved.