Delta Plane Flips Upside Down on Landing at Toronto Airport, Injuring 18
A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday amid windy weather following a snowstorm, injuring 18 of the 80 people on board, officials said.
Crash Details
The CRJ900 aircraft, operated by Delta’s Endeavor Air subsidiary, was arriving from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport when it encountered trouble upon landing. The aircraft, manufactured by Bombardier and powered by GE Aerospace engines, can seat up to 90 passengers.
Among the injured, three passengers—including a child—suffered critical injuries, according to authorities.
Eyewitness Accounts
Passenger John Nelson captured a video of the aftermath, showing a fire engine spraying water on the overturned plane resting on the snow-covered tarmac.
“There was no indication of anything unusual before landing,” Nelson told CNN.
“We hit the ground, and we were sideways, and then we were upside down. I was able to just unbuckle and push myself to the ground. Some people were hanging and needed help getting down.”
A recording from liveatc.net captured an emergency worker reporting to the air traffic control tower:
“The aircraft is upside down and burning.”
Weather & Airport Conditions
Toronto Pearson Airport was experiencing high winds and freezing temperatures as airlines worked to recover from a weekend snowstorm, which dumped over 22 cm (8.6 inches) of snow.
The Delta flight landed at 2:13 p.m. (1913 GMT) after an 86-minute journey and came to rest near the intersection of runways 23 and 15, according to FlightRadar24.
Response & Investigation
- Emergency responders arrived quickly, preventing further casualties.
- Deborah Flint, president of Toronto Pearson Airport, credited first responders for ensuring there were no fatalities.
- Michael J. McCormick, an air traffic expert, noted that the plane flipping upside down made this crash highly unusual, stating:
“The fact that 80 people survived is a testament to aircraft engineering and safety regulations that prevent fatalities in such incidents.”
Impact on Flights & Airport Operations
- The airport was shut down for over two hours, causing delays and flight diversions to Montreal-Trudeau International Airport and other locations.
- Two runways remained closed for investigation, leading to continued flight disruptions.
Ongoing Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has launched an investigation, with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which acquired Bombardier’s CRJ program in 2020, stated it would fully cooperate with the investigation.
Recent Aviation Accidents in North America
This crash follows other recent air disasters:
- A CRJ-700 passenger jet collided with an Army helicopter in Washington, killing 67 people.
- A medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia, killing at least seven people.
- A passenger plane in Alaska crashed, resulting in 10 fatalities.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the Delta crash, as aviation experts assess safety measures to prevent similar incidents.
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