A recently released recording captures the moments from air traffic control following a Delta Airlines plane crash that left the aircraft upside down.
On February 17, around 3:30 PM Eastern time, Delta Airlines Flight 4819 crashed and overturned while attempting to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada. The flight had departed from Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States.
Reports indicate that all 76 passengers and four crew members were safely evacuated. However, officials state that at least 18 individuals sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital.
Delta News Hub issued a statement on Twitter saying, “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.”
Pearson CEO Deborah Flint confirmed that there were no fatalities, though three individuals were critically injured, according to medical transport company Ornge.
Several people who were on the flight took to social media to post videos of the accident, including footage from inside the aircraft right after it flipped.
Audio from the incident reveals an air traffic control officer announcing that a crash occurred on runway two.
Shared by ABC News, the audio records a controller stating 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:
An audio clip from ‘LiveATC.net’ also features an exchange between the air traffic controller and the Delta Airlines pilots before the crash, with the controller instructing: “Endeavor Air 4819. Turn right heading 210. Descent to 3,000. Cleared ILS 23 approach.”
A pilot responds: “Alright heading 210. Down to 3,000. Cleared through the ILS, 23. Endeavor 4819.”
The controller then warns about wind speeds of ’27’ and gusts of ’33,’ noting that although the aircraft was ‘cleared to land Runway 23,’ it ‘may get a slight bump’ and ‘there will be an aircraft in front of it’.
Following another clearance for landing, a pilot requests: “We need crash fire rescue on the runway.”
A voice confirms the plane has ‘crashed’ and requests emergency services.
Air traffic control responds: “Yeah, we’re on it. We got someone coming out.”
Fortunately, all 80 individuals on board were evacuated safely.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is leading the investigation into the incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration noted, “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.”