TORONTO: A Delta Air Lines plane carrying 80 people crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday, flipping onto its back and injuring 18 passengers.
The incident, which occurred amid ongoing weather disruptions, prompted an immediate emergency response, with two runways temporarily shut down for investigations.
Delta Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, was arriving from Minneapolis when it veered off course during landing. The impact left passengers hanging upside down in their seats before they managed to evacuate.
Videos circulating on social media show frantic moments as travellers climbed out of the overturned aircraft, some in shock and others assisting fellow passengers.
All passengers accounted for
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) confirmed that all 76 passengers and four crew members were accounted for. CEO Deborah Flint praised the swift response of emergency teams, calling it a "heroic effort" that ensured no lives were lost.
Seventeen of the injured were transported to hospital immediately, while one more was later taken in for treatment. Ontario’s air ambulance service, Ornge, initially reported that a child and two adults were in critical condition, though Flint later stated the airport had no confirmation of critical injuries.
The crash comes amid severe travel disruptions caused by a weekend snowstorm that dumped 22 centimetres of snow across Ontario, leading to mass delays and cancellations at Pearson. Despite reports of icy conditions, Pearson’s fire chief, Todd Aitken, stated that the runway was dry at the time of the accident, though crosswinds up to 17 knots had been noted by air traffic control.
Canada launches investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has launched an investigation, with assistance from the US National Transportation Safety Board. Meanwhile, Pearson has reopened three of its four runways, resuming regular operations as authorities work to determine the cause of the crash.
The crash comes less than three weeks after an American Airlines plane collided midair with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Washington DC’s Reagan National Airport It also follows the deadly Jeju Air and Azerbaijan Airlines accidents in December, adding to growing concerns over recent aviation incidents worldwide.