Delta Flight 4819 made headlines for all the wrong reasons after it crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Passengers, who managed to escape the plane’s fiery wreckage, are now facing fierce backlash for prioritizing their carry-on bags over safety.
Crash-landing chaos at Toronto airport
On Monday afternoon, Delta Flight 4819, a Bombardier CR900, was making its way from Minneapolis to Toronto. The flight, carrying 80 passengers, went horribly wrong as the aircraft crash-landed and flipped upside down shortly before 3 PM. Amazingly, everyone survived the crash, though 18 passengers suffered minor injuries.
However, what followed shocked many. Despite the chaos, passengers were seen scrambling to leave the aircraft, some of them clinging to their carry-on luggage. Backpacks, neck pillows, and heavy jackets were visibly on many passengers as they exited the wreckage.
Ignoring safety warnings
Airlines are clear in their safety guidelines: in the event of an emergency, passengers should leave everything behind to exit the plane swiftly. Yet, that rule was ignored by many, with several people grabbing their belongings before making their escape.
As news of the crash spread, social media erupted with outrage. Many commenters couldn’t believe what they were seeing. “That plane is upside down, and yet he still has his f***ing hand baggage,” one user wrote. Another added, “So many idiots couldn’t resist grabbing their carry-on luggage before escaping.”
Social media outrage over selfish actions
The reactions on social media were furious. Passengers’ behavior was called out as reckless and selfish. “Never, ever, EVER take your bag when evacuating,” one commenter warned. “It could mean the difference between life and death,” they added.
While some were in disbelief, others shared more sobering advice: “In an emergency, leave everything behind, and never waste a second. Your life—and others’—depends on it.”
A terrifying experience for passengers
One passenger, Pete Koukov, a professional skier from Boulder, Colorado, spoke out about the terrifying moments after the plane flipped. Speaking to NBC’s Today show, he described how passengers hung upside down by their seatbelts, surrounded by sparks and flames.
“It happened so fast,” Koukov recalled. “One moment we were just landing, and the next, the plane was sideways, and we were dangling upside down.” For several heart-stopping moments, passengers were trapped, waiting to be led off the plane.
Koukov managed to unclip his seatbelt and climb out of the plane onto its roof. Crew members told passengers not to move at that point. A video Koukov later shared showed frightened passengers escaping as flames and sparks consumed the wreckage.
Shocking footage captures the chaos
The footage Koukov shared on Instagram paints a chilling picture. Chairs hung from the ceiling, and bags were strewn across the cabin. The plane was upturned, with smoke rising from the wreckage. “Holy f**k,” Koukov can be heard saying repeatedly as he filmed the aftermath.
Miraculously, all passengers made it out. Some crawled out through the doors, assisted by others. Koukov, in his video, couldn’t contain his disbelief. “Yo, I was just on this f***ing plane,” he said.
What caused the crash?
While authorities investigate the cause of the crash, early reports suggest a strong gust of wind may have been a factor. According to Peter Goelz, former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board, the wind likely hit the plane as it touched down, causing it to tip over. The impact triggered a fire in the plane’s fuel cells, leading to the dramatic scenes.
Though the crash was a terrifying experience for everyone on board, authorities confirmed that only 18 people suffered injuries. A four-year-old child, reportedly the youngest passenger, was transported to The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
Two adults were airlifted to nearby trauma centers for treatment. Emergency services rushed to the scene, with 18 paramedic units arriving to assist. By the time they arrived, passengers had already begun evacuating the aircraft on their own.
The aftermath
The crash was a close call for everyone involved, but the aftermath has sparked outrage online. While the incident was undoubtedly terrifying, the selfish behavior of passengers who prioritized their bags over their lives and others’ is now the subject of intense criticism.
As investigations continue, authorities are left to piece together the cause of the crash, but one thing is clear—people’s obsession with their carry-on luggage may have cost them precious seconds in a life-threatening situation.
