Delta Flight Incident at Toronto Airport Leaves 18 Injured
At Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday, a Delta Air Lines flight carrying 80 people flipped upside down upon landing in challenging winter conditions, leaving at least 18 individuals injured.
Originally departing from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Flight 4819 held four crew members and 76 passengers, including 22 Canadians, with the rest hailing from various countries, according to Deborah Flint, president and CEO of Toronto Pearson.
“Thanks to the swift response from our airport emergency team, the passengers were evacuated quickly and efficiently,” Flint reported during a news conference held Monday night.
Seventeen of those injured were transported to nearby hospitals, stated Flint. Initially, Peel Regional Paramedic Services reported two adults and a child in critical condition. However, the Hospital for Sick Children later confirmed a pediatric patient was stabilized to good condition, with the remaining injuries categorized as minor to moderate.
Among the critically injured, a woman in her 40s and a man in his 60s were flown by air ambulance to the hospital, as confirmed by the air ambulance service.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has launched an investigation into the accident, with support from U.S. organizations including the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA, who are sending investigators to help.
Despite the incident, Fire Chief Todd Aitken assured that runway conditions were dry and crosswinds absent at the time of the crash.
Flint announced that two runways will be out of service Tuesday to accommodate the ongoing investigation, urging travelers to be prepared for potential delays.
Delta Air Lines reported the incident occurred around 1:15 p.m. CST, involving a single aircraft. Operations on Monday were suspended, with all flights to and from Pearson canceled. “Our heartfelt concerns go out to those impacted,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian.
Expressing solidarity, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA remarked, “Reports confirm no fatalities. While information is gathered, refrain from speculating on the incident.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed relief that there were no fatalities, assuring provincial support for airport and local authorities.
Weather conditions in Toronto at the time were harsh, with snow and limited visibility of 6 miles, accompanied by winds reaching up to 37 mph and freezing temperatures of 17°F.
The flight, managed by Endeavor Air, a Delta Air Lines subsidiary based in Minneapolis, followed closely after a recent tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport, which resulted in no survivors.