Toronto,
A Delta Air Lines regional jet, Flight DL4819, suffered a dramatic crash landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday afternoon, resulting in 18 injuries, including three critical ones. The plane, which was traveling from Minneapolis-St. Paul, flipped upside down after landing, with one wing reportedly detached, as shown in video footage.
The aircraft, a CRJ900, operated by Endeavor Air, was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members at the time of the incident. While the injuries were serious, none were fatal. Among the injured was a child, and 15 others were immediately taken to hospitals. Thankfully, many of the injured have since been released, according to Delta.
The crash occurred under challenging weather conditions, as Toronto was grappling with strong winds and a snowstorm that had dumped over 22 cm of snow on the airport grounds. At the time of landing, the flight encountered gusting crosswinds and blowing snow, which could have contributed to the accident. According to FlightRadar24 data, the plane touched down at 2:13 p.m., about 86 minutes after departing Minneapolis.
Passenger John Nelson, who was on board, described the terrifying moment: “We hit the ground, and we were sideways, and then we were upside down.” He recounted how he unbuckled his seatbelt and fell to the ground, assisting others who needed help getting down from their seats.
Emergency crews were quick to respond, with fire engines spraying water on the overturned aircraft while passengers were safely evacuated. Toronto Pearson Fire Chief Todd Aitken confirmed the runway was dry, and no crosswind conditions were noted at the time of landing. However, pilots who reviewed the incident disagreed with this assessment, noting gusty winds that required constant adjustments in airspeed and flight profile.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash, with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The investigation aims to determine why one of the plane’s wings detached during the crash.
Although flights have resumed at Toronto Pearson, airport president Deborah Flint warned that the closure of two runways for investigation purposes would cause operational delays over the next few days.
The incident serves as a reminder of the advanced safety measures that are in place to protect passengers, even during such rare and extreme events. Michael J. McCormick, an aviation expert, noted that the fact that 80 people survived this crash ,where the plane ended up upside down-demonstrates the significant progress in aviation safety engineering.
Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which now owns the CRJ aircraft program, expressed awareness of the incident and promised full cooperation with the investigation.
This crash follows several recent aviation accidents in North America, but the relatively minor injuries and absence of fatalities in this case provide a testament to modern aircraft safety systems.
As the investigation continues, authorities are focusing on understanding the exact cause of the plane’s flip and ensuring that similar incidents do not occur in the future.