Delta Airlines Plane Flips on Landing at Toronto Airport, 19 Injured

17 Feb at 6:41 pm

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Delta Airlines Plane Flips on Landing at Toronto Airport, 19 Injured \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A Delta Airlines flight from Minneapolis flipped over upon landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday, injuring 19 people, including three in critical condition. The aircraft, a Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR, came to rest upside down on the snowy tarmac, prompting an immediate emergency response. Officials are investigating whether strong winds and winter storm conditions played a role in the crash. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is leading the investigation, with assistance from U.S. aviation experts.

Delta Plane Crash at Toronto Pearson: Quick Looks

Delta Flight Flips on Landing: A Delta Airlines CRJ-900LR overturned upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport, leaving 19 injured, including three in critical condition.
Weather Conditions May Be to Blame: Strong winds gusting up to 40 mph (65 km/h) and blowing snow may have contributed to the crash.
All Passengers and Crew Accounted For: The airport confirmed that all 76 passengers and four crew members survived the accident.
Emergency Teams Respond Quickly: Firefighters hosed down the wreckage, while Ornge air ambulance transported critically injured passengers to local hospitals.
Investigation Led by Canadian and U.S. Officials: The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is heading the investigation, with assistance from the FAA and NTSB.
Toronto Airport Shut Down for Over Two Hours: Flights were temporarily grounded after the crash, but operations have since resumed.
Experts Call Accident ‘Extremely Rare’: Aviation safety consultant John Cox noted that flipping on landing is highly unusual, though strong winds could be a factor.
Fourth Major Aviation Incident in a Month: The crash follows recent air disasters in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Alaska, raising concerns over aviation safety.

Deep Look

Severe Crash at Canada’s Busiest Airport

A Delta Airlines regional jet from Minneapolis flipped over on landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday afternoon, leaving 19 passengers injured, including three in critical condition. The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. local time, forcing the temporary grounding of flights for nearly two and a half hours.

The airport confirmed the crash on X (formerly Twitter), stating:

“Emergency teams are responding. All passengers and crew are accounted for.”

Images and videos from the scene show the Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR upside down on the snowy tarmac, partially obscured by snow from a weekend winter storm. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, hosing down the aircraft as they worked to secure the area and treat the injured.

Critical Injuries and Emergency Response

The Ornge air ambulance service transported a pediatric patient to Toronto’s SickKids Hospital, while two critically injured adults were taken to local trauma centers.

Despite the severity of the crash, Delta Airlines confirmed that there were no fatalities. The airline issued a statement saying:

“Several customers with injuries were transported to area hospitals. Our primary focus is taking care of those impacted.”

Possible Causes: Weather a Factor?

Officials have yet to determine the exact cause of the accident, but meteorologists say that weather conditions may have played a role.

According to the Meteorological Service of Canada, at the time of the crash:

Strong winds were blowing at 32 mph (51 km/h), with gusts reaching 40 mph (65 km/h).
The temperature was 16.5°F (-8.6°C), with blowing snow reducing visibility.

Air traffic control cleared the flight for landing at 2:10 p.m., warning the pilots about possible turbulence from another aircraft ahead.

Aviation expert John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems, noted that such an accident is highly unusual:

“We’ve seen cases where planes flip on takeoff, but it’s rare for this to happen upon landing. These aircraft are designed to handle strong winds, and pilots are trained for these conditions.”

Investigation Underway by Canadian and U.S. Officials

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has taken charge of the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Authorities will examine flight data, weather conditions, and aircraft maintenance records to determine what led to the plane overturning on the runway.

Aviation Safety Concerns Amid Recent Air Disasters

This accident marks at least the fourth major aviation incident in North America this past month, raising fresh concerns about air safety. Recent crashes include:

A midair collision between a commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, killing 67 people.
A medical transport plane crash in Philadelphia on Jan. 31, resulting in seven fatalities.
A plane crash in Alaska that left 10 people dead.

Officials and Leaders Respond

Following the crash, Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed relief that there were no fatalities, stating:

“Provincial officials are in contact with the airport and local authorities and will provide any help that’s needed.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed he is in touch with Delta Airlines regarding the incident, as Endeavor Air, the airline operating the flight, is based in Minneapolis.

Aircraft Details: The CRJ-900LR

The CRJ-900LR, manufactured by Canadian aerospace company Bombardier, is a widely used regional jet. The model is operated by Endeavor Air, a subsidiary of Delta Airlines that runs 700 daily flights to over 126 destinations.

This particular aircraft belongs to the same family as the CRJ-700, which was involved in a midair collision near Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29.

What Comes Next?

Investigators will now focus on retrieving flight data recorders, analyzing cockpit communications, and reviewing pilot procedures to determine how and why the plane flipped on landing.

While weather conditions are a likely factor, officials will also examine air traffic control instructions, aircraft performance, and runway conditions to rule out mechanical or human errors.

For now, the crash remains under investigation, and further updates are expected as officials piece together the events leading to this rare and dangerous aviation mishap.