Delta plane crashes, flips upside down while landing in Toronto from Minneapolis
Authorities say 21 people are injured after a Delta Air Lines plane flipped upside down while landing amid wintry conditions Monday at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration says 80 people were aboard Flight 4819, which originated from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Delta Air Lines says the accident occurred at about 1:15 p.m. CST. According to Deborah Flint, president and CEO of Toronto Pearson International Airport, the plane was carrying four crew and 76 passengers, among them, 22 Canadians. The other passengers were multinational.
"Airport emergency workers mounted a textbook response, reaching the site within minutes and quickly evacuating the passengers," Flint said during a news conference Monday night.
Delta officials say two people remain hospitalized as of Tuesday morning. Peel Regional Paramedic Services said on Monday two adults suffered critically injuries, while the rest of the injuries are minor to moderate, officials said.
The critically injured adults — a woman in her 40s and a man in his 60s — were airlifted to the hospital, according to air ambulance service officials.
Peel Regional Paramedic Services initially classified a child as also being in critical condition, but the Hospital for Sick Children said they are now in good condition.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada confirmed it is leading the investigation, and the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA say they will send U.S. investigators to assist.
Toronto Pearson International Airport Fire Chief Todd Aitken said Monday night that the runway was dry and there were no crosswind conditions at the time of the crash.
Flint says two runways at the airport will be closed for at least part of the day Tuesday for the investigation.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he is "relieved" there are no casualties.
"Provincial officials are in contact with the airport and local authorities and will provide any help that's needed," Ford said.
Meteorologists say that there was blowing snow in Toronto and visibility was down to 6 miles at the time of the incident, with winds at 20 mph and gusts up to 37 mph. Temperatures were well below freezing, at 17°F.
The flight was operated by Endeavor Air, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, which is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Monday's incident occurred just weeks after a deadly mid-air collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter at Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C. Officials said everyone on both aircraft perished.
Two days later, a Lear medical jet crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood, killing all six passengers and one person who was on the ground.
