Featured Image Credit: Facebook/John Nelson
Topics: Canada, Travel, US News, Social Media
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Canada, Travel, US News, Social Media
A recording from air traffic control moments after a Delta Airlines plane crashed and flipped on its head has been released.
Yesterday (February 17) at around 3:30pm Eastern time, Delta Airlines Flight 4819 crashed and flipped upside down while trying to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada, after taking off from the US in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
All 76 passengers and four members of crew are reported as having been safely evacuated, however, at least 18 were injured and transported to hospital, officials say.
Delta News Hub said in a statement shared to Twitter: "Initial reports were that there are no fatalities. Several customers with injuries were transported to area hospitals. Our primary focus is taking care of those impacted."
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Indeed Pearson CEO Deborah Flint confirmed there was 'no loss of life,' however, medical transport company Ornge did report three people suffered critical injuries.
Several passengers took to social media to share footage of the incident, one from inside the plane moments after it flipped over.
And audio from air traffic control has revealed the moment a controller alerted there'd been 'a crash on runway two'.
Shared by ABC News, the recording shows a controller notify there are 'people outside walking around the aircraft there'.
"Yeah we've got an aircraft that is upside down and burning," a voice confirms.
Take a listen:
A recording obtained by 'LiveATC.net' revealed an air traffic controller in conversation with the Delta Airlines plane's pilots prior to the crash too, with the controller stating: "Endeavor Air 4819. Turn right heading 210. Descent to 3,000. Cleared ILS 23 approach."
Another voice responds: "Alright heading 210. Down to 3,000. Cleared through the ILS, 23. Endeavor 4819."
However, air traffic control then warns of winds measuring '27' and gusts '33', adding despite the plane being 'cleared to land Runway 23,' it 'may get a slight bump' and 'there will be an aircraft in front of it'.
After another comment approving the plane as being 'clear to land,' the next comment is from the 'other pilot' who states: "We need crash fire rescue on the runway."
A voice confirms the plane has 'crashed' and emergency services are 'needed'.
Air traffic control reassures: "Yeah, we're on it. We got someone coming out."
Thankfully all 80 people onboard were safely rescued from the plane.
The incident remains under investigation, led by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement: "The NTSB is leading a team of U.S. investigators to assist the Transportation Safety Board of Canada with their investigation of today’s accident of a Delta Air Lines Bombardier CRJ900 at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
"Per international protocols under the International Civil Aviation Organization's Annex 13, any information about the investigation will be released by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada."
LADbible Group has previously reached out to Delta Airlines for comment.