Toronto, 18 February: A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, injuring 18 of the 80 people on board, authorities said. The CRJ900, operated by Delta’s subsidiary Endeavor Air, was arriving from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport when it crashed amid strong winds and frigid temperatures following a weekend snowstorm.
Three passengers, including a child, suffered critical injuries, officials said. The aircraft, manufactured by Bombardier and powered by GE Aerospace engines, came to rest near the intersection of runways 23 and 15 at 2:13 p.m. (1913 GMT), according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24.
Passenger John Nelson, who posted a video of the aftermath on Facebook, told CNN there were no signs of trouble before landing. “We hit the ground, and we were sideways, and then we were upside down,” he said. “Some people were hanging and needed help getting down, while others managed on their own.”
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene. A recording posted on liveatc.net captured an emergency worker reporting, “The aircraft is upside down and burning,” after an air traffic controller observed passengers walking near the wreckage.
Toronto Pearson Airport President Deborah Flint credited first responders for preventing fatalities. “We are very grateful that there is no loss of life and relatively minor injuries,” she said at a press conference.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has launched an investigation, with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. The cause of the crash remains unknown. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which acquired Bombardier’s CRJ program in 2020, said it would fully cooperate with the probe.
The incident led to a temporary shutdown at Toronto Pearson, causing delays and diversions, including to Montreal-Trudeau International Airport. Flint warned of continued disruptions as two runways remain closed.
Michael J. McCormick, an associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, called the crash “fairly unique” due to the aircraft’s upside-down position. “The fact that 80 people survived an event like this is a testament to engineering, technology, and regulatory standards,” he said.
The crash follows recent fatal aviation incidents in North America, including an Army helicopter collision with a CRJ-700 in Washington, a medical transport plane crash in Philadelphia, and a passenger jet crash in Alaska.
