Peter Koukov, a passenger aboard the Delta Air Lines flight that crash-landed in Toronto, shared his firsthand account of the terrifying ordeal. Traveling from Denver to Toronto on Monday, Koukov captured the immediate aftermath on video as passengers disembarked the overturned aircraft. In an interview with "America's Newsroom," he described the chaotic sequence of events.
"We impacted the runway, bounced, then tipped onto our side," Koukov recounted. "We slid for what felt like a short time, considering the situation, before ending up completely upside down, suspended by our seatbelts." He expressed relief that everyone survived the incident, adding, "We all made it out safely, thankfully."
The CRJ-900 aircraft, originating from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport and destined for Toronto Pearson International Airport, encountered difficulties during landing. High winds and heavy snow had already caused disruptions at Pearson prior to the crash. Koukov stated there was no advance warning from the pilot or any indication of trouble until the moment of impact.
Passenger-recorded footage shows the chaotic scene following the crash landing, with passengers evacuating the overturned and burning plane. (Peter Koukov)
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, all 80 individuals on board were evacuated. Images from the scene depict the aircraft lying upside down in the snow. Air traffic control recordings reveal the urgency of the situation, with officials reporting the plane as "upside-down and burning."
Delta Air Lines confirmed that 18 passengers sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals. Emergency services reported at least three individuals with critical but non-life-threatening injuries. Two patients, along with a four-year-old child, were taken to separate trauma centers and a children's hospital, respectively.
Koukov described the disorientation of being suspended upside down, noting how he and a nearby passenger managed to quickly extricate themselves. While others required assistance, he believed no further injuries occurred during the evacuation from the overturned plane.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada leading the inquiry. Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed concern for those affected and thanked the first responders and Delta team members. He directed individuals to news.delta.com for updates.
