On the 17th (local time), a Delta Air Lines passenger plane overturned during landing at Toronto Airport in Canada, but all 80 people on board survived, leading many to call it a "miracle." Experts analyzed that this miracle was thanks to aircraft designs prioritizing safety and the quick, calm response of rescue teams and crew members.

The aircraft in question was Delta Connection Flight 4819, which departed from Minneapolis and arrived in Toronto. During landing, its right wing struck the runway, causing the plane to overturn. The impact triggered several explosions, subjecting passengers to a severe shock.

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The incident could have turned into a major disaster, but thanks to the swift firefighting and evacuation of passengers, all 80 people on board survived miraculously. Delta Air Lines stated that 21 passengers were taken to the hospital with injuries, and except for two, all were discharged before the morning.

According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 18th, experts said this miracle was due to aircraft designs prioritizing safety and the quick, calm response of rescue teams and crew members. Graham Braithwaite, head of the aviation department at Cranfield University in the UK, stated, "The fact that there were no fatalities when the plane overturned on the runway tells us a lot about how the aircraft was designed, how the rescue team responded, and the role played by the crew."

He explained that features such as seats not detaching from the floor, sturdy seat belts, and soft surfaces to minimize injury when passengers hit the seat in front all help reduce risks in such overturn accidents.

In fact, eyewitnesses at the scene reported that most passengers were safely protected thanks to their seat belts. Pete Carlson, a passenger, said in an interview with Canadian broadcaster CBC that he was "completely hanging upside down" until he unbuckled his seat belt himself right after the accident. Another passenger, John Nelson, recalled in an interview with CNN that he was "hanging upside down with the seat belt on, and so were others."

Delta Air Lines passenger plane flipped over on the runway at Toronto Airport. Photo by Reuters/ Yonhap News

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A flight attendant is assisting passengers on a Delta Air Lines passenger plane that had an accident while landing at Toronto Airport. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

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The calm response of the crew also played a crucial role. After the plane overturned upon landing, passengers found themselves hanging upside down inside the cabin, and some, gripped by intense fear, struggled to unbuckle their seat belts. At that moment, the crew walked among the upside-down passengers, giving clear instructions such as "Leave everything behind and head to the emergency exit," enabling a swift evacuation. Rescue workers assisted passengers as they exited through the emergency exits.

Braithwaite explained that it is important for crew members to quickly give simple instructions like "Unbuckle your seat belt" to prevent passengers from panicking. He said, "It may seem obvious, but in a state of panic, it can be hard for people to figure out what to do next."

Deborah Flint, CEO of Toronto Pearson Airport, praised the airport staff's response, saying, "The absence of casualties was thanks to the heroic and well-trained professionals and rescue teams at the airport." She added, "The airport's emergency response teams arrived at the scene within minutes and quickly evacuated the passengers." Braithwaite said, "Looking at photos from the scene, it seems like something else could have happened, but the fortunate outcome we see now is proof that everyone made tremendous efforts."

Movie poster for 'Sully: Miracle on the Hudson'