Toronto Pearson International Airport is bracing for further delays and cancellations on Tuesday after a Delta Air Lines plane crash on the runway left 18 people injured Monday afternoon. The incident has disrupted operations at one of Canada’s busiest airports, with two runways still closed as of Tuesday morning.
The Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR aircraft, arriving from Minneapolis/St. Paul, crashed at approximately 2:15 p.m. on Monday, flipping onto its roof. Images from the scene showed the plane upside down on the runway. Officials confirmed that 80 passengers and crew were on board at the time of the crash.
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) reported that no one sustained life-threatening injuries. “We are very grateful that there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries,” said GTAA CEO Deborah Flint.
The crash forced the airport to suspend arrivals and departures for several hours, causing significant disruptions to air travel. While some operations have resumed, the closure of two runways is expected to lead to ongoing delays and cancellations in the coming days.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with no details yet released by authorities.
The ripple effects of the incident have extended beyond passenger travel. Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford’s team confirmed that a campaign stop in Sault Ste. Marie was canceled Tuesday after his flight from Pearson was grounded.
Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates on flight statuses as the airport works to restore normal operations.