Delta Air Lines Toronto plane crash survivors hire lawyers

Passengers on board a Delta Air Lines plane that crashed and flipped on an icy Toronto runway are set to sue as crews remove the wreckage.

Two survivors of the Delta Air Lines crash, which skidded upon landing and burst into flames at Toronto Pearson International Airport, are now taking legal action.

Toronto-based law firm Rochon Genova said that their clients were injured in the crash and played a crucial role in opening an emergency exit to help others escape.

“With our involvement, we expect to reach a timely and fair resolution for these clients and others who reach out to us,” lawyer Vincent Genova said in a statement.

A crane lifts the debris of the plane at Toronto Pearson Airport. Picture: CTV

Speaking to The Canadian Press, Mr Genova confirmed that both of his clients sustained injuries, with one returning to the hospital on Wednesday for a possible head injury.

He also revealed that he is working with an American law firm representing US clients affected by the crash.

“We’re likely to launch our own investigation to determine if additional parties should be involved in potential litigation,” Mr Genova said.

This image taken from video provided by CTV shows workers near the crashed passenger jet on a tarmac of the Toronto Pearson Airport. Picture: CTV via AP

Meanwhile, the official investigation into the cause of Monday’s fiery crash landing is ongoing, leading to delays and some flight cancellations at Pearson.

Two of Pearson’s runways remain closed in the wake of the incident, while crews now begin removing parts of the wreckage of Flight 4819 from the runway.

🔴 Vidéo impressionnante du crash du CRJ900 de Delta, hier soir à l’aéroport de Toronto.

▫️Aucune victime à déplorer. pic.twitter.com/TJoxd6KFCd

— air plus news (@airplusnews) February 18, 2025

Toronto Pearson International Airport CEO Deborah Flint said the airport and surrounding areas faced “extreme conditions” in the days leading up to the crash, including two separate snowstorms on Thursday and Sunday which brought more than 20 inches of accumulation.

She said it was “really incredible” all of the passengers and crew survived.

“So many factors led us to have gratitude today,” Flint said.

A total of 21 passengers were hurt, with injuries ranging from minor to “critical but not life-threatening,” Flint said.

Of those, 20 have been released from local hospitals, with two still undergoing treatment. None of the survivors’ injuries were life-threatening, she said.

Airport workers survey the site of the Delta Air Lines plane crash. Picture: Getty

Footage shared on X shows the The Endeavor Flight 4819 descending and then hitting the snow-covered tarmac, immediately bursting into flames.

The person filming the footage can be heard repeatedly shouting “oh no” as the aircraft skids off the runway and flips upside down.

The plane crash landed in Canada’s biggest city after departing from Minneapolis in the US state of Minnesota on Monday afternoon local time.

Survivors miraculously escaped from the wreckage of a plane, walking from the jet onto the icy tarmac as emergency crews sprayed down the aircraft.

This image taken from video provided by CTV shows emergency crews responding at Toronto Pearson Airport after the Delta Air Lines plane crashed. Picture: CTV via AP

Pearson International Airport firefighters work on the upside down Delta Air Lines plane. Picture: The Canadian Press via AP

Survivors walk from the wreckage of the Delta Airlines plane. Picture: Supplied

‘UPSIDE DOWN, BURNING’: CHILLING AUDIO AFTER PLANE FLIPS

In audio recordings since released, an air traffic controller can be heard describing how the aircraft was “upside down and burning” in recordings.

“Just so you’re aware, there are people outside walking around the aircraft there,” he said. “Yeah, we’ve got it,” another man responded. “The aircraft is upside down and burning.”

Meanwhile, other footage showed passengers walking on the ceiling to escape from inside the plane.

“Don’t take a video. Put that phone away,” a flight attendant could be heard saying.

Video also showed images of people stumbling away from the upside down plane, shielding their faces from wind gusts.

Ashley Zook was on board the Delta airlines flight which crashed in Toronto, Canada. Picture: Snapchat

The flames were largely extinguished after being doused with water as teams swept through the plane wreck still lying belly-up on the runway.

However, when two firefighters jumped out of the plane’s emergency exit and into the heaps of snow left over from a weekend storm, part of the aircraft closest to them burst into a brief flurry of flames, the footage shows.

Dazed passengers walk from the Toronto plane crash. Picture: Supplied

The plane crashed amid freezing conditions and high winds in Toronto. Picture: The Canadian Press via AP

As one firefighter doubled back to help his colleague off the ground, the fire was out as quickly as it had started.

More firefighters rushed to their aid as extra water was dumped on the plane for safe measure.

The Delta Air Lines plane overturned after crashing at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. Picture: The Canadian Press via AP

80 PASSENGERS ABOARD CRASHED DELTA AIR LINES FLIGHT

Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand said there were 80 passengers on the flight.

A Facebook user who said he was a passenger on the flight, John Nelson, posted a video showing the crashed plane and wrote: “Our plane crashed. It’s upside down.”

“Most people appear to be okay. We’re all getting off,” he added.

A Delta Air Lines flight is upside down after crashing at Toronto airport. Picture: Supplied

Ashley Zook wrote on Snapchat: “I was just in a plane crash. Oh my god.”

‘BLIZZARD CONDITIONS’: THEORY ON HOW PLANE CRASHED

Former Qantas pilot Richard Woodward explained how the plane could have flipped.

“I suspect it has been landing in blizzard conditions, icy runway, aircraft slides a bit and comes off the side of the runway and it is clear the whole undercarriage and wings are missing, so they have been ripped off and flipped over. That is the reason the aircraft is upside down,” he told Sunrise.

Toronto Pearson is aware of an incident upon landing involving a Delta Airlines plane arriving from Minneapolis. Emergency teams are responding. All passengers and crew are accounted for.

— Toronto Pearson (@TorontoPearson) February 17, 2025

Earlier in the day, Toronto Pearson International Airport had posted a photo of the runway as ground staff cleaned up following a storm on the weekend.

“Here’s a look at part of our airfield this morning as the clean up continues from this weekend’s storm,” it said.

“Our crews worked all weekend to keep the roughly 5 million square metres of airfield clear of snow to keep planes arriving and departing safely.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was “relieved there are no casualties after the incident at Toronto Pearson,” adding that airport and local authorities were providing help.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Originally published as Delta Air Lines Toronto plane crash survivors hire lawyers