A Delta Air Lines jet with 80 people onboard crash-landed at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport on Monday afternoon, flipping upside down and leaving at least 18 people injured. The flight, operated by Endeavor Air, was traveling from Minneapolis with 76 passengers and four crew members aboard. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
The cause of the accident, including how the plane ended up inverted with its wings clipped, has not been revealed. Todd Aitken, the airport’s fire chief, confirmed that the runway was dry and there were no crosswind conditions at the time of the crash, but emphasized that it was too early to speculate about the cause.
According to paramedics, three individuals were critically injured: a child, a man in his 60s, and a woman in her 40s. All those injured, including those with minor wounds, were transported to nearby hospitals by ambulance or helicopter, said Lawrence Saindon of paramedic services.
Local broadcasts and social media shared dramatic images of passengers emerging from the overturned CRJ-900 aircraft, shielding themselves from gusty winds and blowing snow. Fire crews worked swiftly to douse the plane with water as smoke billowed from the fuselage.
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Toronto airport authority CEO Deborah Flint praised emergency responders for their rapid action, noting that they reached the site within minutes and quickly evacuated passengers. Many survivors were soon reunited with their families.
The airport temporarily suspended all flights following the crash but resumed operations around 5:00 p.m., more than two hours later. Travelers were advised to expect delays.
A passenger on the flight, John Nelson, shared a video on social media, showing the overturned plane and confirming, “Most people appear to be okay. We’re all getting off.”
Delta Airlines issued a statement confirming that Flight 4819 was involved in an incident, expressing relief that there were no fatalities. The airline’s CEO, Ed Bastian, sent his thoughts to those affected.
The incident occurred amid ongoing winter storm conditions in eastern Canada. While snow had stopped falling, frigid temperatures and strong winds continued to impact the region.
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. This crash follows several other recent aviation incidents across North America.
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