3 on board, including child, suffer critical but not life-threatening injuries
A Delta Air Lines plane crashed and overturned while landing at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport on Monday afternoon, injuring at least 15 passengers and prompting the closure of the airport’s runways until at least Tuesday. The incident has sparked a large-scale emergency response and an investigation by Canadian transportation authorities.
The aircraft, a Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR operated by Delta subsidiary Endeavor Air, was arriving from Minneapolis when it flipped onto its back during landing. A photo shared with CBC by a passenger showed the plane lying upside down on the runway. Peel Region paramedics initially reported eight injuries but later revised the number to 15, including a child who was transported to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children with critical injuries. A man in his 60s and a woman in her 40s were also taken to local hospitals in critical condition.
Ornge Air Ambulance deployed three helicopters and two critical care land ambulances to the scene. Peel Regional Police confirmed that most of the approximately 80 passengers and crew on board were unharmed, though authorities remain on-site to ensure all individuals are accounted for.
Delta Air Lines issued a statement acknowledging the crash of Flight 4819 and emphasized that its primary focus is on supporting those affected. The airline urged passengers traveling through Pearson to monitor their flight status via the Fly Delta app.
The crash occurred on a busy day at Pearson, with over 130,000 travelers expected to board around 1,000 flights. The airport had earlier warned of potential disruptions due to 22 centimeters of snowfall over the weekend, which caused widespread delays and cancellations.
Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow both expressed relief that all passengers and crew were accounted for. Chow praised the quick actions of first responders, crew, and airport staff in ensuring safety. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has dispatched a team to investigate the cause of the crash.