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A Delta Air Lines regional jet turned upside down after landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday due to windy conditions following a snowstorm. There were 80 people on board, and 18 of them were injured, including three individuals with critical injuries, one of whom was a child. A total of 15 people were taken to hospitals for treatment, although some have since been released.
The flight, DL4819, operated by Endeavor Air, was a CRJ900 aircraft with 76 passengers and four crew members. The plane, which is 16 years old and can seat up to 90 people, lost at least one of its wings during the incident, as seen in videos taken after the crash.
Canadian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, which is still unknown. Passenger John Nelson shared a video on Facebook showing emergency responders spraying water on the plane, which was lying upside down on the snow-covered tarmac. He described the landing as unexpected, stating, “We hit the ground, and we were sideways, and then we were upside down.”
Weather conditions at Toronto Pearson Airport included high winds and cold temperatures following a weekend snowstorm that dropped over 22 cm (8.6 inches) of snow. The Delta flight landed at 2:13 p.m. after an 86-minute journey. Flight tracking data indicated that strong gusts and blowing snow were present during the landing.
While the airport’s fire chief claimed the runway was dry and there were no crosswinds at the time of the crash, some pilots disagreed with this assessment. Aviation expert John Cox noted that there was an average crosswind of 19 knots (22 mph) during the landing, which could have affected the pilots’ control of the aircraft.
Investigators will look into why the right wing detached from the plane. Michael J. McCormick, an aviation professor, highlighted the uniqueness of the incident, noting that the survival of all 80 passengers is a testament to modern aviation safety standards.
Although flights have resumed at Toronto Pearson Airport, there will be delays and operational impacts over the next few days as two runways remain closed for the investigation. Airport president Deborah Flint emphasized the importance of first responders in preventing fatalities, saying, “We are very grateful that there is no loss of life and relatively minor injuries.”
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has sent a team of investigators to the scene, and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board will also assist. A preliminary report on the incident is expected within 30 days.
This incident follows a series of recent aviation accidents in North America, including a tragic helicopter crash in Washington, D.C., and other plane crashes in Philadelphia and Alaska.
