Photo Credit: Getty Images
In a shocking incident at Toronto Pearson International Airport, a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis dramatically overturned upon landing, leaving 18 passengers injured and creating a surreal scene that witnesses described as unprecedented. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon when Flight 4819, operated by Delta's subsidiary Endeavor Air, crashed during its landing attempt at approximately 2:15 PM local time.
The aircraft, a CRJ-900 carrying 76 passengers and four crew members, encountered severe weather conditions during its approach. At the time of the incident, the airport was experiencing winds of 20-30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph, while temperatures had plunged to 18 degrees Fahrenheit, creating a wind chill of minus 2 degrees.
"We just landed. Our plane crashed. It's upside down," reported passenger John Nelson in a video captured moments after the incident. The footage showed emergency responders swiftly evacuating passengers from the overturned aircraft, highlighting the intensity of the situation.
Toronto Pearson CEO Deborah Flint confirmed that while 18 people required medical attention, none were in critical condition. Two patients required airlift transport to nearby trauma centers – a man in his 60s was taken to St. Michael's Hospital and a woman in her 40s to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Additionally, a child was transported to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed his concern in a statement: "The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today's incident at Toronto-Pearson International Airport. I want to express my thanks to the many Delta and Endeavor team members and the first responders on site."
The incident prompted immediate response from aviation authorities. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has deployed investigators, with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that FAA investigators were en route to Toronto, emphasizing the international cooperation in determining the cause of the crash.
The impact on airport operations was significant, with Toronto Pearson implementing a ground delay averaging 292 minutes. Delta subsequently canceled all remaining flights into and out of Toronto for Monday night and issued travel waivers to affected customers.
