Toronto, Canada – A Delta Airlines flight arriving from Minneapolis flipped upon landing at Toronto’s Pearson Airport on Monday, leaving 19 passengers injured, three of whom are in critical condition. The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. local time.
The airport confirmed via social media platform X that all 76 passengers and four crew members on board the Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR were accounted for. Delta Airlines issued a statement acknowledging the accident and emphasizing that initial reports indicated no fatalities.
Emergency response teams were quick to the scene, where the aircraft was found upside down on the snowy tarmac, partially obscured by the recent winter storm that had swept through Toronto. Video footage from the site shows emergency workers dousing the plane with water.
Ornge air ambulance services reported that one pediatric patient was being transported to Toronto’s SickKids hospital, while two adults with critical injuries were taken to other medical facilities within the city.
While the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation, weather conditions at the time may have contributed. The Meteorological Service of Canada reported blowing snow and winds of 32 mph (51 kph), gusting up to 40 mph (65 kph), with temperatures around 16.5 degrees Fahrenheit (-8.6 Celsius).
John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems and a former U.S. Air pilot, remarked on the rarity of such incidents, noting the CRJ900’s longstanding service record and ability to handle adverse weather conditions. “The weather conditions were windy, but the airplanes are designed and certified to handle that,” Cox stated.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada would lead the investigation, with assistance from a team of U.S. investigators. This incident marks the fourth major aviation mishap in North America in recent weeks.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed relief that there were no casualties, stating that provincial officials are in contact with the airport and local authorities to offer assistance as needed.
Endeavor Air, a Minneapolis-based subsidiary of Delta Air Lines and the largest operator of CRJ-900 aircraft, operates 130 regional jets across 700 daily flights to destinations in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. The CRJ900, developed by Canadian aerospace company Bombardier, belongs to the same family of aircraft as the CRJ700 involved in a recent midair collision near Reagan National Airport.
