• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Passenger who survived Delta Airlines crash landing recalls the one thing he noticed before plane flipped upside-down

Home> News> World News> Canada

Published 14:51 18 Feb 2025 GMT

Passenger who survived Delta Airlines crash landing recalls the one thing he noticed before plane flipped upside-down

John Nelson was one of the 80 people on the Delta Airlines flight that crashed yesterday

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

A passenger who miraculously survived yesterday's Delta Airlines crash has spoken out about the terrifying experience.

On Monday (February 17), a plane carrying 76 passengers and four crew members crashed as it landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada.

The aircraft proceeded to flip upside-down after hitting the tarmac, leaving everyone onboard suspended upside down in the air.

Advert

While 18 people are thought to have been injured in the ordeal, everyone survived.

One person who was onboard the flight, which was heading to Toronto from Minneapolis, was John Nelson.

A Delta Airlines jet flipped upside-down after landing in Toronto (GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images)
A Delta Airlines jet flipped upside-down after landing in Toronto (GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to CNN, John recalled the moments leading up to the crash.

Advert

"It was a typical flight from Minneapolis to Toronto," he said. "And we were coming in, and I did notice the winds were super gusty.

"The snow had kinda blown over the runways. So coming it was routine but it was noticeable that the runways were in kind of a weird condition."

John went on to share: "When we hit, it was super hard. We hit the ground and the plane went sideways and I believe we skidded on our side and flipped over on our back."

Once the plane had ground to a halt, John then noticed 'a big fireball on the left side of the plane'.

He went on to describe the whole thing as 'mass chaos', particularly when everyone was hanging upside-down in their seats.

"We kind of let ourselves go and fell to hit the ceiling," John said of the immediate aftermath.

Advert

"It was a surreal feeling. And then everyone was just like, 'Get out! Get out! Get out!'"

He added: "We could smell jet fuel. Even now I smell like jet fuel."

Fortunately firefighters were on hand 'right away' and everyone was able to evacuate the aircraft before more of the plane set on fire.

People have since hailed it a 'miracle' that the plane didn't explode and that everyone onboard survived the scary ordeal.

Advert

John Nelson was one of the 76 passengers on the plane (CNN)
John Nelson was one of the 76 passengers on the plane (CNN)

"The fact this plane did not explode in flames because of the amount of jet fuel is nothing short of a miracle," one person penned on YouTube. "Thank god all the souls on this flight survived."

Echoing similar sentiments, someone else said: "This was a miracle. I hope the survivors will eventually fully recover from physical and psychological injuries."

Praising the emergency services, another person wrote: "Incredible there were not any fatalities. Someone give those first responders a raise, they were quick and effective and saved lives."

Featured Image Credit: CNN

Topics: Canada, Travel, News, World News

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

X

@niamhshackleton

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

5 hours ago
6 hours ago
7 hours ago
  • 5 hours ago

    Ex-pilot of B-2 stealth bomber reveals disturbing truth of going to toilet on 44-hour mission

    Air Force colonel Melvin Deaile had to go for a wee every 60 minutes

    News
  • 6 hours ago

    People left stunned as woman breaks down exactly how much it costs to give birth in America

    You could put deposits down on several houses for that!

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Doctor gives 'deeply concerning' warning after man injected himself with sperm to 'cure back pain'

    A man self-medicated by injecting himself with his own semen to 'cure' his back pain

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Rosie O’Donnell issues scathing response to all the celebrities who attended Jeff Bezos’ $56,000,000 wedding

    "Seeing all these billionaires gathering in the gross excess of it all. The show of it," she wrote on Instagram.

    Celebrity
  • Shocking footage shows how Delta Airlines plane flipped upside-down after crash landing in Toronto
  • Passenger posts horrifying video of inside Delta plane moments after it flipped upside-down in crash landing
  • Shocking footage shows Delta Airlines flight flipped upside-down after crash landing in Toronto
  • Passenger documents moment they escaped Delta plane after it flipped upside-down