A Delta Air Lines plane from Minneapolis crashed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday afternoon, injuring eight people, including a child and two adults suffering from critical conditions.
Shocking images on the scene show Bombardier CR900 aircraft operated by hard-working air hangs upside down on an ice-covered runway. When first responders surrounded the plane and sprayed foam to prevent potential fires, passengers were found evacuating and escaping from the wreckage.
Emergency response and injury
Emergency services, including Peel Area Police and Ornge air ambulance, responded quickly after receiving a call around 2 p.m. and were transported to the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, all of which suffered severe but life-injured injuries.
“The emergency team is responding. All passengers and crew are explained,” Pearson International Airport released on X.
Peel care workers initially said up to nine people could be injured, but authorities later confirmed eight people were injured, most of whom were mild.
Suspension of airport operations
Airport staff informed CTV News that all arrivals and departures were suspended due to the crash. Pearson’s website reflects multiple delays, leaving passengers stranded and uncertain.
“There is still a lot of uncertainty…no arrival or departure,” noted CTV News reporter Kamil Karamali, noted. He added that Toronto’s strong winds were speculated by aviation enthusiasts as possible, leading to dangerous off-road winds.
Toronto Pearson realized the incident involving Delta Airlines planes arriving from Minneapolis. The emergency team is responding. All passengers and crew were considered.
— Toronto Pearson (@torontopearson) February 17, 2025
Witness Account
John Nelson, a passenger on Flight 4819, shared the video on Facebook, saying: “We just landed. Our plane crashed – turned upside down. Most people will be fine.”
Investigation is underway
The Canadian Transportation Safety Commission will investigate the incident. The Flight Attendant Association confirmed that AFA crew members are joining and urged the public not to speculate when conducting the investigation.
The crash stopped operations at Pearson, affecting many flights and passengers. Authorities continue to evaluate the situation, with expectations updated as the investigation progresses.
