Summary:
- A Delta CRJ-900 jet flipped upside down during a snowy landing at Toronto Pearson Airport, injuring 18 passengers/crew; all 80 onboard survived.
- Conflicting injury reports emerged: airport officials cited non-critical injuries, while air ambulances reported three critical cases, including a child.
- Heavy snowfall (22 cm over the weekend) and back-to-back winter storms contributed to hazardous conditions during the crash landing.
- Investigations by Canadian/U.S. aviation authorities are underway amid concerns over recent FAA staffing cuts and a string of North American aviation accidents.
A Delta Air Lines CRJ-900 jet flipped upside down during a snowy landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday afternoon, injuring 18 passengers and crew members. All 76 passengers and four crew survived the crash, which occurred at approximately 3:30 PM local time (20:30 GMT) as the flight arrived from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Greater Toronto Airports Authority CEO Deborah Flint confirmed no fatalities but acknowledged varying injury reports. “Seventeen injured passengers were taken to local area hospitals. At this time, we do not know of any of those passengers having critical injuries,” Flint said during a press conference. Ontario air ambulance service Ornge later stated a child, a man in his 60s, and a woman in her 40s were transported with critical injuries, though the discrepancy remains unexplained.
Passenger John Nelson captured the chaotic aftermath in a cellphone video, stating, “We just landed. Our plane crashed. It’s upside down. Most people appear to be OK.” Social media footage showed evacuees shielding their faces from heavy snow and wind while exiting the overturned aircraft.
The crash occurred amid severe winter conditions, with Toronto receiving 22 centimeters (8.7 inches) of snow over the weekend. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada and U.S. National Transportation Safety Board have launched joint investigations. Peel Regional Police are also assisting.
This marks the fourth major aviation incident in North America in under a month, including a fatal midair collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people. The crash coincides with ongoing concerns over staffing cuts at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, which unions warn could strain safety operations.
Delta Air Lines has not yet commented on the cause of the incident. The Association of Flight Attendants urged against speculation, emphasizing the need for thorough investigation. Toronto Pearson, Canada’s busiest airport, resumed normal operations after temporary delays.
