One year after the Feb. 17, 2025 Toronto rollover crash, survivor John Nelson says the memory continues to haunt him. All 76 passengers and four crew members survived, though 21 were injured and two seriously. Nelson reports persistent physical injuries and severe anxiety that have disrupted his life and ability to train. Dozens of passengers are pursuing additional compensation while the Transportation Safety Board of Canada continues its investigation.
One Year After Toronto Rollover Plane Crash, Survivor John Nelson Says the Moment 'Replays All the Time'
L: Delta Air Lines flight 4819 overturned in Toronto on Feb. 17, 2025; R: Passenger John NelsonGEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty; Courtesy of John Nelson
One year after a terrifying runway rollover at Toronto Pearson International Airport, survivor John Nelson says the memory of the Feb. 17, 2025 accident "replays all the time." Nelson, 48, of Bayport, Minn., was a passenger on Delta Air Lines Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, when the jet impacted the runway, lost its right wing, caught fire and flipped onto its roof before sliding down the runway.
Miraculously, all 76 passengers and four crew members survived the incident, though 21 people sustained injuries and two were reported to have serious injuries.
John Nelson, his wife and two childrenCourtesy of John Nelson
Personal toll: Nelson describes the crash as life-changing. He reports bruises across his body and ongoing medical problems including a torn retina, a persistent floater in one eye, neck and spinal disk injuries, and numbness in his fingers. An Ironman athlete before the accident, he says those injuries have prevented him from training.
Beyond the physical damage, Nelson says the psychological impact has been profound. He experiences sleepless nights, ongoing intrusive memories of the crash and has been prescribed multiple medications to manage anxiety and concentration. "I can't get it out of my head," he tells PEOPLE. "I want to get past it, and I just can't right now."
A Delta airlines plane sits on its roof after crashing upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport in Toronto, Ontario, on February 17, 2025.
During the emergency, Nelson says he called his daughter — then 15 — a choice he calls "both a blessing and a curse," noting the call likely both traumatized and bonded them in lasting ways.
Travel and recovery: Nelson says his family, who previously loved to travel, have mostly stopped flying. He has only flown twice since the crash for previously scheduled obligations and describes landings as "atrocious," despite medication intended to calm passengers during flights.
Investigators examine the wreckage of a Delta Air Lines plane a day after it crashed on landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Toronto.GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty
Compensation and litigation: On Feb. 19, 2025, a Delta spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE that each of the 76 passengers would receive $30,000 in compensation "with no strings attached." Still, dozens of passengers, including Nelson, are pursuing additional damages. A master complaint filed on behalf of multiple plaintiffs accuses Delta Air Lines and its Endeavor Air subsidiary of "acts, omissions and systemic failures" that caused the accident and the resulting injuries and losses.
Erin Applebaum, Nelson's attorney and co-chair of the plaintiffs' executive committee, says evidence obtained so far "points to a clear and preventable sequence of events." The complaint alleges the flight crew failed to execute a missed approach (a go-around) despite a dangerously fast rate of descent.
The legal action is currently paused as both sides await the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) to issue its formal findings. In a statement to PEOPLE, a Delta spokesperson said the airline and its subsidiary "remain fully engaged as participants in the investigation led by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada," and declined further comment.
This story highlights the continuing physical, emotional and legal consequences for survivors even after the immediate danger has passed.
Help us improve.
