Eighteen passengers have been injured and three are in critical condition after a Delta Air Lines flight DL4819 crash-landed at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.
Authorities quickly responded after a Delta flight coming from Minneapolis, MN, crash-landed on the tarmac just after 2 p.m. ET. The dramatic landing occured in the aftermath of a massive snowstorm that ravaged the city just a day earlier.
Footage from the scene of the crash shows the aircraft struggling to stabilize as it descended. Moments before the impact, the plane’s right wing and engine struck the pavement, sparking a trail of fire and debris.
The plane’s right wing was sheared off completely before the plane rolled over, flipping its passengers upside down.
Remarkably, no passengers were killed. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority reports that all of the flight’s 76 passengers and four crew members – including 22 Canadians – were accounted for.
Eighteen of the passengers sustained injuries, including three in critical condition. Among them, a child was airlifted to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, while a man in his 60s and a woman in her 40s were transported to Toronto hospitals.
Shaken passengers fleeing the plane documented their reactions to the crash expressing horror and shock and relief that everyone had survived.
One video shows emergency crews dousing the wreckage with water as passengers disembarked onto the snow-covered, wind-swept runway.
The Delta aircraft involved was an Airborne Canadair Regional Jet CRJ900 built by the Quebec-based aircraft manufacturer Bombardier.
Delta Air Lines confirmed that an Endeavor Air pilot – a regional airline brand wholly owned by Delta – was operating the plane.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada told True North that they have deployed a team to investigate the accident, but were unwilling to provide any updates on the potential cause of the crash.
GTAA fire chief Todd Aitken told reporters on Monday that the runway conditions were dry and there were no crosswinds.
However, David McNair, a former Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigator raised doubt at the prospect of there being no crosswinds, saying the pilots were instructed that there were crosswinds up to 17 knots just before landing.
Environment Canada reported winds gusting to over 60 kilometres per hour at the time of the crash.
An audio recording obtained by The Canadian Press shows that the tower approved Delta Flight 4819 for landing just after 2 p.m. while warning the pilots of a possible air flow bump in the glide path from the aircraft that landed just before it.
Two runways remain closed as authorities continue to conduct their investigation, leaving several travellers with delayed or even cancelled flights.
The GTAA confirmed they would provide an update on the crash to the media later on Tuesday.
The crash of Delta Flight 4819 was met with across-the-board concern from Canadian leaders.
Minister of Transport Anita Anand thanked the first responders who arrived at the scene to quell the fire and transported the injured to hospitals, wishing the best for those affected.
“I want to thank all the first responders and @TorontoPearson staff following today’s incident at Pearson Airport. My thoughts are with those injured and their families. We are supporting the ongoing investigation in any way we can,” said Anand.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed relief that nobody died in the crash and promised to assist in the investigation if needed.
“I’m relieved there are no casualties after the incident at Toronto Pearson. Provincial officials are in contact with the airport and local authorities and will provide any help that’s needed,” said Ford.
Mayor of Toronto Olivia Chow expressed relief that all passengers and crew members were accounted for while Mayor of Mississauga Carolyn Parrish said she was relieved nobody had died.
“I’m relieved to learn that all passengers and crew are accounted for after today’s plane crash at Toronto Pearson. Thank you to the first responders, crew and airport staff for their quick actions and commitment to keeping everyone safe,” said Chow.
“Incredible stories from passengers on the Delta plane. Miraculous there were no deaths. Human beings at their finest as they comforted and assisted one another,” said Parrish.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre also expressed his concern for the passengers and crew members involved in the crash, wishing the injured a rapid recovery.
“I’m extremely concerned by the plane crash earlier this afternoon at Toronto’s Pearson airport. My thoughts are with the passengers and crew, and all those working to respond to this awful situation. Wishing a rapid recovery to all injured,” said Poilievre.