VIDEO: Passenger recalls Amtrak derailment in Chester, Pa.

CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- Mariam Akhtar from Washington, D.C. was on the sixth car when the Amtrak train derailed in Chester, Pa.

"It felt like the train hit something and there were like three or four really big bangs and it kind of threw us off the seats we were sitting in. There was a lot of smoke and everybody was yelling. The train kind of stopped and later on, everybody was running to the front. Then the people were in the front started walking toward the back," Akhtar said.

PHOTOS: Fatal Amtrak derailment in Delaware County

Akhtar says the crew handled the situation well and none were panicked.

She says she was on the train for about 30 minutes before she was able to exit.