Updated Story: Delta Jet Flips at Toronto Airport, All 80 Survive \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A Delta Air Lines CRJ-900 jet overturned while landing at Toronto Pearson Airport amid high winds and blowing snow. All 80 onboard survived, though 18 were hospitalized with minor injuries. Authorities are investigating the cause, with experts noting the rare nature of such an accident.
Delta Jet Crash in Toronto: Quick Looks
- All Passengers Survive: The Delta Air Lines CRJ-900LR flipped onto its roof during landing at Toronto Pearson Airport.
- Harsh Weather Conditions: The crash occurred amid gusting winds of up to 40 mph (65 kph) and blowing snow.
- Minor Injuries Reported: All 80 people onboard survived; 18 were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
- Crash Investigation Underway: Canadian and U.S. aviation authorities are probing the cause, focusing on potential wind effects and structural damage.
- Rare Incident: Aviation experts call the inversion of the aircraft unusual, citing missing right-wing concerns.
- Recent Aviation Accidents: The crash marks the fourth major North American aviation incident in three weeks.
Deep Look
Delta Jet Overturns Upon Landing at Toronto Pearson
A Delta Air Lines jet carrying 80 people overturned while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday afternoon, a rare and dramatic aviation incident that left all onboard alive but raised serious safety concerns. The CRJ-900LR regional jet, operated by Endeavor Air, was arriving from Minneapolis when it flipped onto its roof upon touchdown amid harsh winter conditions.
The aircraft came to a stop at the intersection of Runways 23 and 15L, not far from its intended landing point. Despite the severity of the crash, the fuselage remained mostly intact, and emergency responders arrived within minutes to evacuate passengers and crew.
“We are very grateful there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries,” said Deborah Flint, CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority.
Passengers Escape as Emergency Crews Respond
Firefighters quickly doused the remaining flames as passengers exited the upturned aircraft and made their way across the tarmac. Video footage posted on social media captured the chaotic aftermath, showing emergency teams working to secure the scene.
Toronto Pearson Fire Chief Todd Aitken confirmed that 18 passengers were taken to hospitals, with injuries deemed non-life-threatening. Ornge air ambulance services also transported one child to Toronto’s SickKids Hospital and two adults to local medical centers.
Aitken emphasized that emergency teams responded as planned, ensuring a swift evacuation.
“The runway was dry, and there were no cross-wind conditions at the time of the crash,” Aitken noted, raising questions about what led to the unusual overturning of the aircraft.
Weather Conditions and Air Traffic Communications
At the time of the accident, Toronto Pearson was experiencing blowing snow with winds of 32 mph (51 kph), gusting up to 40 mph (65 kph). The temperature was approximately 16.5°F (-8.6°C), according to the Meteorological Service of Canada.
Air traffic control communications show that the Delta flight was cleared to land at 2:10 p.m., with a controller warning the pilot about a possible airflow disturbance, referred to as a “bump” on approach.
John Cox, CEO of aviation safety consulting firm Safety Operating Systems, reviewed the audio recordings and stated that such warnings are standard in windy conditions.
“It sounds to me like a controller trying to be helpful, meaning the wind is going to give you a bumpy ride coming down,” Cox explained. “But airplanes are designed and certified to handle that, and the pilots are trained to handle that.”
Experts Question Missing Wing and Rare Inversion
The fact that the aircraft flipped onto its roof is considered highly unusual, even in rough landing conditions. Cox, a former U.S. Air pilot and experienced aviation safety investigator, noted that such incidents typically occur during takeoff rather than landing.
“We’ve seen a couple of cases where airplanes have ended up inverted during takeoff, but it’s pretty rare during landing,” he said.
One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the crash is the apparent loss of the aircraft’s right wing. Aviation experts suggest that if a wing was missing or significantly damaged upon landing, it could have contributed to the dramatic rollover.
“If one wing is missing, it’s going to have a tendency to roll over,” Cox stated. “That’s a central question: What happened to the wing, and when did it separate?”
Investigation Underway: Canada and U.S. Authorities Involved
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is leading the crash investigation, with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Investigators will analyze flight data and cockpit voice recordings to determine the precise sequence of events leading to the accident.
“The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder will be recovered, if not today, then tomorrow,” Cox said. “Once those are reviewed, investigators will have a very good understanding of what actually occurred.”
Recent Aviation Accidents Raise Safety Concerns
The Delta crash marks the fourth major aviation accident in North America in just three weeks:
- January 29: A commercial jetliner collided with an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., killing 67 people.
- January 31: A medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia, killing six onboard and one person on the ground.
- February 6: A plane crash in Alaska resulted in the deaths of 10 people.
While aviation remains one of the safest modes of transportation, the cluster of recent incidents has renewed focus on safety measures, particularly during extreme weather conditions.
Delta and Endeavor Air Respond to the Crash
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian issued a statement expressing concern for those affected.
“The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those impacted by today’s incident at Toronto Pearson International Airport,” Bastian said.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also stated that he had been in touch with Delta regarding the accident.
The CRJ-900 aircraft involved in the crash was operated by Endeavor Air, a Minneapolis-based Delta subsidiary and the world’s largest operator of this aircraft model. The CRJ-900, developed by Canadian aerospace company Bombardier, is widely used in regional air travel.
What Happens Next?
Investigators will continue analyzing wreckage, weather data, and flight records to determine what caused the jet to flip. If a structural failure—such as a missing wing—was a contributing factor, it could lead to further scrutiny of the CRJ-900 fleet.
Passengers and crew are expected to be interviewed as authorities piece together the final moments before the crash. A preliminary report on the cause is anticipated in the coming weeks.
While the survival of all onboard is a remarkable outcome, the incident raises urgent questions about aircraft performance in adverse conditions and the need for further safety protocols in winter weather operations.
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