Passengers who escaped the airplane that crash-landed in Toronto have been blasted for prioritizing their carry-on luggage over the lives of others.
On Monday afternoon Delta Flight 4819 crash-landed at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport after flying in from Minneapolis.
The Bombardier CR900 aircraft, with 80 individuals on board, overturned and crashed upside down around 3pm. Despite the terrifying incident, all passengers survived, with only 18 sustaining minor injuries.
In the midst of the crazy scene passengers were seen rushing off the jet, with some grabbing their personal belongings before they did so.
A crowd of passengers were seen on the icy runway with backpacks on, neck pillows in hand and wearing bulky jackets.
Airlines always tell passengers to leave everything behind in the event of an emergency in order to quickly get each passenger to safety.
Soon after news of the crash spread online, social media users began to comment on how many fliers had their carry-on luggage with them.
One observer couldn’t help but comment on a passenger who, despite the plane being inverted, was still holding onto their hand baggage. The sight of a traveler with a backpack while gazing at the overturned aircraft prompted a reaction from onlookers.
Passengers on board Delta Flight 4819 on Monday were called out for grabbing their carry-on items before exiting the upside-down plane
The Bombardier CR900, carrying a total of 80 passengers, flipped over and came to rest upside down just before 3pm. Even in this dramatic situation, with the jet seen on the snow-covered runway, all individuals on board managed to survive the crash, although 18 of them suffered only minor injuries.
‘So many idiots in this emergency couldn’t resist grabbing their carry-on luggage before escaping,’ wrote another.
Someone else wrote: ‘If you ever get into a plane crash or even have to evacuate an aircraft (you won’t. I promise you) NEVER EVER F***ING NEVER I CANNOT REPEAT THIS ENOUGH take your bag as you’re evacuating.’
Another commenter urged fliers to ‘never waste a second’ and grab your belongings during an emergency.
‘It could be a difference between life and death for so many including you,’ they added.
On Tuesday, a professional skier who was onboard, told NBC’s Today show that he and other passengers were told to hang upside down for several terrifying moments before they were eventually led off the aircraft.
Pete Koukov, from Boulder, Colorado, described the moment travelers were suspended by their seatbelts surrounded by ‘sparks and flames’ after the plane flipped.
‘People were hanging there for about a minute,’ Koukov told the outlet.
A crowd of passengers were seen on the icy runway with backpacks on, neck pillows in hand and wearing bulky jackets
He added that people were ‘feeling pretty frantic,’ but miraculously everyone managed to escape.
‘I didn’t really notice anything wrong until the moment we hit the ground,’ Koukov explained.
‘For me, it was just kind of like, the wheels touched down, and all of a sudden I just remember being fully sideways looking down and seeing sparks and flames and whatever was grinding against the ground.
‘It happened pretty dang quick and then we were just hanging upside down, hanging from our seatbelts.’
Koukov said he managed to unclip himself and stand on the roof of the plane. He said crew members told the remaining passengers ‘not to get out of their seats’ at that point.
He also shared harrowing footage of terrified passengers scrambling to safety on his Instagram.
Pete Koukov described the terrifying moment travelers hung from their seatbelts surrounded by ‘sparks and flames’ after their plane flipped over in Toronto on Monday afternoon
The clips showed chairs hanging from the ceiling while bags were strewn across the upturned cabin. A woman climbed over the door frame while three men supported her by her arms as she climbed out of the wreckage.
Koukov filmed the evacuation from beside the exit, and he kept the camera rolling as he landed in the snow before panning over to reveal the crushed plane with smoke billowing from its bottom.
A fire engine parked nearby was seen spraying water at the overturned wreckage while remaining passengers rushed out of the plane and ran for safety.
‘Holy f**k,’ Koukov could be heard saying repeatedly. ‘Oh my f***ing God. Yo, I was just on this f***ing plane.’
The survivor shared the stunning footage alongside the caption: ‘Being alive feels pretty cool today.’
Canadian authorities have said they are still working to determine the cause of the crash.
In separate footage showing the plane making contact with the ground, the Bombardier CR900 was seen coming in for the landing in blustery and windy conditions.
Upon impact a fireball erupted and the plane appeared to tilt to one side.
The wreckage of the aircraft is seen on the runway on Tuesday. In total, 18 passengers were treated for various injuries
Former National Transportation Safety Board managing director Peter Goelz told CNN that it appeared a strong gust of wind had hit the plane just as it touched down, causing it to tip over and resulting in the wing coming off.
He said the impact caused a fire in the fuel cells in the wing.
Canadian authorities held two press conferences on Monday night providing limited updates about the crash.
In total, 18 passengers were treated for various injuries.
A four-year-old who is thought to have been the youngest passenger was taken to The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
Two adults were airlifted to trauma centers nearby – one went to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and the other to St. Michael’s Hospital.
In all, 18 paramedic units arrived at the scene. When emergency services arrived, a ‘self evacuation’ was already taking place.
