Pro Skier Survives Delta Airlines Crash

Holy f-ing sh*t is right. Pro skier Pete Koukov was on the Delta flight that overturned while trying to land at Toronto Pearson airport last week. 

Koukov took to Instagram to express his gratitude for life after surviving a terrifying plane crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport on February 17, 2025. In his post, he stated, “Being alive seems pretty cool today,” alongside footage of the dramatic evacuation from Delta Flight 4819.

Koukov captured video moments after the crash, showing passengers exiting the aircraft through the emergency exits onto the runway. The flight, carrying 76 passengers and four crew members, overturned upon landing. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, though 21 passengers sustained injuries, with 19 released from local hospitals by Tuesday morning.

In an interview with the Today Show, Koukov praised the flight attendants for maintaining order during the evacuation. “Everyone got off in a pretty orderly fashion. It didn’t seem too insane once the plane had stopped and everyone realized, for the most part, they were OK,” he recalled.

Authorities are still determining the cause of the accident. Officials from Delta, Mitsubishi (the CRJ-900 aircraft manufacturer), Canada’s Transportation Safety Board, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration are on-site conducting investigations. The plane will remain on the runway for 48 hours before being removed and the area reopened.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued a statement on LinkedIn, expressing support for those affected, saying, “The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those impacted by today’s incident.”

Koukov, a Boulder, Colorado native known for his appearances in ski films like “Strictly Business” and “Most Gutter,” recalled the terrifying moments before the crash. “The wheels touched down, and all of a sudden, I just remember being fully sideways, and I was looking down and just seeing sparks and flames,” he said.

The incident remains under investigation, with more details expected as officials continue their review.