On February 18, a Delta Air Lines flight experienced a harrowing crash while attempting to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The jet, which was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members, was left severely damaged, with one of its wings torn off after it flipped onto its back on the tarmac.

What was supposed to be a routine flight ended in chaos when the aircraft encountered strong turbulence during its final descent. Witnesses described the event as shocking and unsettling, as the plane made an abrupt and hard landing on the runway. The jet skidded uncontrollably, flipping over, and its fuselage was left mangled. Flames started to lick at the wreckage, adding to the terrifying scene. As the plane came to a halt, some passengers were able to escape the upside-down aircraft, which was notably missing its right wing.

Inside the plane, passengers found themselves trapped in their seats, hanging upside down, struggling to free themselves while they waited for rescue teams to arrive. Passenger John Nelson recounted to CNN that everything seemed normal until the plane hit the runway “super hard.” He described seeing a “big fireball” out of the left side of the aircraft. “When we got finished, I was upside down, everybody else was there as well,” he said. “Luckily, the firefighters got out of there,” he added, recalling his efforts to unbuckle and quickly flee the wreckage.

Another passenger, Pete Koukov, recalled the disorienting sensation of the crash, saying, “we were sideways, and then we were upside down, hanging like bats.” Fortunately, emergency responders were quick to reach the scene, rescuing survivors from the wreckage and fighting through the smoke that filled the cabin.

Out of the 80 people aboard the flight, 18 sustained injuries, with three in critical condition. Many of the injured passengers were treated for burns, broken bones, and head trauma.

The crash occurred around 2:15 p.m., when Pearson was experiencing strong winds, blowing snow, and freezing temperatures of about 16.5°F (-8.6°C). According to air traffic control audio, the flight had been cleared for landing just a few minutes earlier, around 2:10 p.m. The control tower had informed the pilots about the possibility of turbulence on approach due to wind conditions. Shortly after the plane’s crash, an urgent call was made for crash fire rescue assistance, and it was confirmed that the plane had crashed on runway 23, where it had ultimately come to rest.

The audio, which was captured by LiveATC.net, continues with air traffic controllers coordinating with emergency services. One controller warned of the presence of people walking around the overturned aircraft as rescuers arrived. The helicopter pilot, responding to the urgency of the situation, confirmed the severity, stating, “Yeah, we’ve got it. The aircraft there is upside down and burning.”

This tragic event adds to a series of recent aviation accidents in North America. Just a few weeks earlier, in late January, an American Airlines jet collided mid-air with a U.S. army helicopter in Washington, D.C., resulting in the deaths of all 67 people on board. Earlier this month, an air ambulance crashed in Philadelphia, killing seven people and injuring 24 others. Another deadly crash occurred off the coast of Alaska when a small commercial aircraft went down, claiming the lives of 10 individuals.

As investigations continue into the cause of the Delta flight’s crash, the event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers and unpredictability of air travel, even on routine flights.