A Delta Air Lines flight crashed on Monday at Toronto Pearson International Airport, with the plane ultimately flipping upside down. Despite the dramatic crash, all 80 people on board survived. The plane was coming from Minneapolis when it crashed while attempting to land.
Incident Details and Immediate Response
Delta Air Lines Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, was carrying 80 individuals, including 76 passengers and four crew members. The plane, a Bombardier CRJ900, crashed around 2:15 p.m. local time, skidding on the runway and overturning on the snow-covered tarmac.
- Critical Injuries: One child, a man in his 60s, and a woman in her 40s suffered critical injuries.
- Rescue Efforts: Eighteen people were transported to hospitals. Three air ambulances and two ground ambulances responded to the scene.
- Airport Operations: Toronto Pearson Airport resumed operations around 5:00 p.m. after a temporary closure.
“We are very grateful there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries,” said Deborah Flint, CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. The airport chief praised the swift actions of emergency services, calling the response “textbook.”
Passengers’ Experiences
Passenger accounts from the scene provide harrowing details of the crash. One passenger, John Nelson, shared his experience on social media: “We hit the ground, and we were sideways, and then we were upside down.” He added that after the crash, he had to help fellow passengers down from the overturned plane.
Watch the Facebook Video:
Professional skier Pete Koukov, who was also aboard, described the moment the plane made contact with the runway: “The second that the wheels hit the ground, everything happened.” Koukov said the plane skidded on its side, sparking flames and leaving passengers in a panic.
Despite the chaotic situation, passengers managed to evacuate the aircraft without further incident. Video footage shared online shows fire crews spraying foam on the plane as survivors exited.
Weather Conditions and Investigation
The weather at the time of the crash was challenging. Toronto had been experiencing severe winter conditions, with heavy snowfall and wind gusts of up to 64 km/h. However, Toronto Pearson’s fire chief, Todd Aitken, clarified that the runway was dry at the time of landing, contradicting earlier reports of gusty crosswinds.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has launched an investigation into the incident. The board is focused on gathering information about the circumstances leading to the crash. Meanwhile, two of the airport’s runways will remain closed for several days during the investigation, leading to potential delays for other flights.
“We are closely following the situation and will provide further updates as the investigation progresses,” said Canadian Transport Minister Anita Anand.
Delta Airlines and Official Responses
Delta Airlines confirmed that Flight 4819 was operated by Endeavor Air, a subsidiary of Delta. The airline expressed relief that there were no fatalities, with CEO Ed Bastian saying, “The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident.”
The crash comes amidst growing concerns about air safety in North America. It is the latest in a series of high-profile aviation incidents, including a deadly collision between an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter near Washington DC earlier this year.
Impact on Airport Operations and Passengers
Toronto Pearson Airport, the busiest in Canada, was temporarily closed following the crash, leading to significant disruptions. Flights in and out of the airport faced delays and cancellations. Many passengers were stranded, with some reporting they were left waiting for days due to the aftermath of the crash and ongoing weather issues.
James and Andrea Turner, who were in the airport’s customs area, had been scheduled to board the same plane. They were evacuated and their flight was canceled. “They got rid of everybody from customs to security, and then put everybody back to the general area,” James said, describing the chaotic scene that unfolded after the crash.
Ongoing Challenges in Aviation
This crash is part of a series of aviation incidents affecting North America this year. On January 29, a military helicopter collided with a commercial jet near Washington DC, killing 67 people. Just days later, another crash occurred when a medical plane went down in Pennsylvania.
While these incidents raise concerns about aviation safety, experts say they are isolated events. The investigation into the Toronto crash will likely provide further insights into its cause.
Conclusion
The Delta plane crash at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday shocked both passengers and the aviation community. Although there were significant injuries, including three critically injured individuals, the swift response of emergency crews and the resilience of passengers prevented any fatalities. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, with Toronto Pearson facing ongoing disruptions due to the investigation.
The crash serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of aviation and the importance of safety measures in emergency situations.
Key Points:
- All 80 people aboard survived the Delta Airlines crash at Toronto Pearson Airport.
- Three critically injured passengers, including a child, were airlifted to hospitals.
- Weather conditions at the time included heavy snow and strong winds.
- The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has initiated an investigation into the crash.
- Toronto Pearson Airport experienced significant delays and cancellations post-crash.
