A major aviation disaster was narrowly avoided at Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga after a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis crash-landed, lost its wings, and overturned on the runway. Despite the dramatic scene, all 76 passengers and four crew members survived, thanks to what officials are calling a “textbook response” from both the flight crew and first responders.
The incident occurred at 2:15 p.m. on Monday, when Delta flight 4819 touched down on Pearson’s longest east-west runway. Moments after landing, a section of the plane burst into flames, prompting an immediate evacuation. While 21 passengers were transported to the hospital, 19 have since been released, and two remain under medical care with non-life-threatening injuries.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Deborah Flint, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), commended the flight crew for their heroic actions in leading passengers to safety. “They played the most important role yesterday—saving lives amidst smoke and fire,” Flint stated, thanking the flight attendants and crew members for their bravery.
GTAA Fire Chief Todd Aitken also praised emergency teams, confirming that firefighters arrived within minutes to extinguish multiple spot fires. He emphasized that the runway was dry at the time of the crash, with no crosswind conditions, but urged against speculation about the cause of the incident.
Officials noted that Toronto Pearson had been hit by two intense snowstorms in the days leading up to the crash, accumulating 50 cm (20 inches) of snow, more than the airport received in all of last winter. However, conditions were clear on Monday as operations were recovering from previous delays and cancellations.
A team of 20 investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada is now leading the crash investigation, supported by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Delta Air Lines representatives. More details are expected as authorities assess the wreckage and review flight data.
Two of Pearson’s five runways remain closed, causing significant delays for travelers over the next 48 hours. Peel Regional Police, Ontario Provincial Police, and Toronto Police were all involved in the emergency response, with over 50 officers deployed to assist at the scene.
While the cause of the crash remains unknown, officials are emphasizing the swift and professional response that helped avert what could have been a catastrophic tragedy.