A Delta Air Lines flight crashed and flipped upside down while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday, injuring at least 18 people. The incident took place amidst wintry conditions, as snow and strong winds impacted visibility and landing conditions.
Flight 4819, traveling from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, had 80 people on board, including 76 passengers and four crew members. The passengers were a mix of nationalities, with 22 Canadians among them.
Toronto Pearson’s president and CEO, Deborah Flint, praised the quick response from emergency teams, noting that airport workers reached the crash site within minutes and successfully evacuated passengers. Seventeen passengers were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Initially, two adults and one child were listed in critical condition, but the child’s condition has since improved. The critically injured adults—a woman in her 40s and a man in his 60s—were airlifted to a hospital.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has launched an investigation into the accident, with U.S. authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA offering support. Early reports indicate the runway was dry, and no crosswind conditions were present at the time of the incident.
Flint confirmed that two runways would be closed for part of the following day to allow for the investigation, with significant delays expected for travelers.
Delta Air Lines, which canceled all its flights to and from Pearson for the day, expressed its sympathy for those affected by the incident. CEO Ed Bastian extended the company’s support to passengers and crew involved in the crash.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford offered his relief that there were no fatalities and said provincial officials would continue to provide any necessary assistance.
Meteorological conditions at the time of the crash included blowing snow, reduced visibility (down to 6 miles), and temperatures of 17°F. Wind gusts of up to 37 mph further complicated the landing.
