Audio recordings from air traffic control show the emergency sequence of events where Delta Air Lines Flight 89 crashed and overturned while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on February 17.
The CRJ900 aircraft with 76 passengers and four crew members slid on the runway until it stopped upside down. Emergency responders observed flames while they arrived at the crash site. The entire passenger and crew roster survived the crash, although 21 people, including a child, sustained injuries.
Travelers experienced panic when their seats held them upside down until they freed themselves to land on the aircraft ceiling. Airport crews together with firefighters helped transport passengers out of the aircraft.
Investigators have not determined the reason behind this incident. The city of Toronto received heavy snow during the weekend, but authorities verified that the runway was dry and there were no crosswind conditions when the plane landed. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada leads the investigation while receiving support from U.S. authorities.
Flight controllers approved the aircraft to land at 2:00 p.m. during local time. The controllers issued warnings about an upcoming “airflow bump” from another aircraft, which has led experts to consider wake turbulence or runway objects as potential causes of the crash. Flight attendants and emergency crews received high praise from aviation experts alongside modern aircraft safety features, which prevented the situation from becoming worse.
This aviation accident becomes the fourth major aviation disaster in North America during recent weeks. The investigation team maintains control of two Toronto Pearson runways while their examination continues. The hospital released nineteen out of twenty-one injured passengers, according to Delta Air Lines. Medical professionals have indicated that the child remains in stable health.
