Delta Flight 4819 Crash Lands at Toronto Pearson, All Survive

Toronto, Canada | Strong winds and snowy conditions buffeted Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday afternoon as Delta Flight 4819, arriving from Minneapolis with 80 passengers and crew, crash landed on the runway.

While all on board survived, the aircraft was significantly damaged, and 18 people were injured, prompting a temporary shutdown of Canada’s busiest airport.

The CRJ900 aircraft, operated by Endeavor Air for Delta, touched down amidst reported wind gusts of approximately 38 mph. Communication between air traffic control and the pilots just minutes before the incident indicated awareness of the challenging conditions.

“Might be a slight bump in the glide path,” the air traffic worker radioed. “There will be an aircraft in front of you.” However, within two minutes, the plane had flipped, erupting in flames as it impacted the runway.

Passengers described a chaotic scene inside the overturned aircraft. John Nelson recounted the moment of impact, saying, “When we got finished, I was upside down, everybody else was there as well.” Peter Koukov, another passenger, described the disorienting experience of suddenly being suspended upside down in his seat. “I didn’t know anything was the matter until the plane hit the ground and felt like it had turned sideways,” he said.

Despite the severity of the crash, passengers and crew were able to evacuate the aircraft. Video footage captured by Koukov showed passengers exiting the plane through emergency exits, some carrying small bags, as firefighters sprayed the wreckage with fire retardant. Peter Carlson, another passenger, spoke of the immediate sense of community that arose amidst the chaos. “What I saw was everyone on that plane suddenly became very close, in terms of how to help one another, how to console one another,” he told CBC.

While initial reports indicated no fatalities, both Delta and Toronto Airport Fire Chief Todd Aitken confirmed that 18 people were injured and transported to local hospitals. The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto reported that a child was among the injured but is in good condition. Peel Regional Paramedic Services provided a slightly lower figure of 15 injured passengers, according to CBC. CNN is currently seeking clarification from Peel Paramedics and Delta Air Lines.

“We are very grateful there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries,” said Deborah Flint, CEO of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority.

The crash temporarily halted operations at Toronto Pearson, leading to significant delays and the cancellation of over 200 flights by early evening. Passengers at the airport described the scene as “messed up,” with luggage piling up in terminals. The airport began reopening runways later in the evening, but two runways, including the one where the crash occurred, will remain closed for several days as investigators from both Canada and the United States conduct their investigation.

This incident marks the fourth major aviation accident in North America in the past month, raising further concerns about flight safety. It comes just three weeks after a mid-air collision between an American Airlines plane and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C., which resulted in 67 fatalities.

The investigation into the Delta Flight 4819 crash will focus on determining the cause of the accident, including the role of the strong winds and any other contributing factors. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will lead the investigation, with cooperation from US authorities.