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Delta flight from Minneapolis crashes on runway after heavy snowstorm, sparking rescue efforts and widespread delays.
On Monday afternoon, 18 passengers were injured after a Delta Air Lines plane crashed and flipped on its back at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. The accident occurred shortly after the airport struggled to recover from a weekend snowstorm that caused flight delays and cancellations.
Delta Air Lines Flight 4819, arriving from Minneapolis, had 76 passengers and 4 crew members on board. All passengers, including 22 Canadians, were accounted for, according to Deborah Flint, the CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA).
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Despite the harrowing crash, Flint emphasized there were no fatalities and relatively minor injuries, a result she credited to the quick action of first responders at the airport. “We are deeply grateful for the efforts of our heroic responders,” she said, reassuring the public that those affected were receiving care and support at the airport.
The plane, a Bombardier CRJ-900LR, crashed just after 2 p.m. and flipped onto its back. Passengers onboard, including Peter Carlson, a paramedic, described the landing as “forceful,” with the plane suddenly going “sideways” before flipping. Carlson shared his experience with CBC News, recalling the terrifying moment when he was “upside down, still strapped in.”
Following the crash, 17 people were rushed to hospitals with varying injuries, with one child transported to the Hospital for Sick Children. Authorities remain unsure of how many individuals sustained critical injuries, but Ontario’s air ambulance service Ornge confirmed multiple critical care transport teams were dispatched to the scene.
The investigation into the crash is underway, with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) sending investigators to the site. Meanwhile, airport operations were temporarily affected, with departures and arrivals suspended on some runways. Traffic was later redirected, and some flights were diverted to other airports, including Hamilton International and Montreal’s Trudeau Airport.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow expressed relief that all passengers and crew had survived. “Thank you to all the first responders for their quick action,” she wrote on social media.
The incident has raised questions about runway conditions and possible crosswinds. While GTAA officials initially reported dry conditions, former investigators from the TSB suggested the crosswind was stronger than reported, possibly contributing to the accident.
For the many passengers stranded in the terminal due to snowstorm-related delays and cancellations, the crash only added to the chaos. One passenger, Barb Fraser, criticized the airport’s handling of the aftermath, describing the situation as “messed up” and likely to take weeks for the airport to recover.
As investigations continue, many remain thankful that the crash, though terrifying, did not result in fatalities.