A total of 17 people were injured after a Delta Airlines plane crashed on the runway at Pearson International Airport on Monday afternoon. The incident happened sometime after 2 p.m. and involved Endeavor Flight 4819 arriving from Minneapolis/St. Paul. Images from the scene show the plane, a Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR, on its roof on the tarmac at Pearson. In one audio recording reviewed by CP24, an air traffic control agent is heard saying that the aircraft is “upside down and burning.” All arrivals and departures were shut down at Pearson for hours following the crash. However, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority confirmed that flights in and out of the airport resumed at 5 p.m. In a news conference on Monday night, Greater Toronto Airports CEO Deborah Flint called the response to the crash “textbook.” “We are very grateful that there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries,” she said. The latest: - Delta Airlines says that the flight was carrying a total of 80 people – 76 passengers and four crew.
- 22 Canadians were on board the flight
- Ornge initially said that three people, including a child, sustained critical injuries. At a subsequent update on Monday night, GTAA officials said that they were not aware of any critical injuries.
- Two runways remain closed at the airport and airport officials are warning of further flight delays over the coming days.
7:26 p.m.In about 30 minutes, the airport fire chief is set to provide an update about the airplane crash. 7:18 p.m.The Greater Toronto Airports Authority confirmed that of the 76 passengers onboard the plane, 22 were Canadians and the others were “multinational.” CEO Deborah Flint says 17 passengers were brought to local hospitals, adding the GTAA is unaware of any of those travellers having critical injuries. “No airport CEO wants to have these type of press conferences, but this is exactly what our emergency, our operations and our federal our first responder partners are all practiced and trained for,” Flint said during a press conference on Monday night. Two of the airport’s runways will be closed for the next several days, Flint says. She says that she anticipates operations to be impacted as a result, with the possibility of some flight delays. “We will be sharing information periodically. For those traveling, continue to look at our website and be in touch with your respective carrier as well,” Flint said. 7:10 p.m.Greater Toronto Airports Authority CEO Deborah Flint says that airport emergency workers operated a “textbook response” to today’s crash and “immediately halted” arrivals and departures. She says she is “very grateful that there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries” as a result of the crash. 7:00 p.m.Aviation expert Phyl Durdey tells CTVNews.ca there are a myriad of factors at play that could have caused the airplane to flip onto its side, adding it may take some time to find out what really happened. Judging by the windsock visible in video captured at the scene, Durdey says “there is a pretty strong crosswind.” “We’d just have to see what the black boxes say,” Durdey said. 6:30 p.m.Video circulating social media shows passengers from inside of the Delta aircraft scrambling to get out of the overturned plane, with what appears to be flight crew and airport staff assisting them. 6:20 p.m.Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he is “extremely concerned” by the plane crash on Monday afternoon. “My thoughts are with the passengers and crew, and all those working to respond to this awful situation. Wishing a rapid recovery to all injured,” Poilievre said in a social media post. Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie also expressed her gratitude to everyone who responded to the accident, wishing everyone a “swift and full recovery.” “I’m relieved to hear there are no casualties following the plane crash at Pearson airport today,” Crombie wrote on X. 6:05 p.m.Mayor Olivia Chow expressed her thanks to all first responders and airport staff for their swift action and commitment to keeping everyone involved safe. “I’m relieved to learn that all passengers and crew are accounted for after today’s plane crash at Toronto Pearson,” Chow said in a post on X. 5:55 p.m.Toronto Pearson says it will provide an update to reporters about the crash at 6:30 p.m. 5:50 p.m.Delta Airlines has put out a statement confirming that 18 people with injuries have been transported to local hospitals. “Our primary focus is taking care of those impacted,” the airline said in an updated statement. “The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident at Toronto Pearson International Airport,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said. “I want to express my thanks to the many Delta and Endeavor team members and the first responders on site.” 5:30 p.m.All flights at Toronto Pearson have now resumed as of 5 p.m., the airport says. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority says it is currently supporting families and passengers at arrivals. 5:15 p.m.Ottawa International Airport (YOW) says 14 diversions are currently at the airport. “Aside from the flights to and from YYZ being affected, it’s a typical operation at YOW that includes residual delays and cancellations from the storm that impacted many cities in North America over the past several days,” the statement reads. “We are supporting the airlines and ground handlers, and have extra resources on hand in the event that any of the flights are deplaned and passengers require support.” 5 p.m.The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, an American agency that investigates civil aviation accidents, said it is currently leading a team of U.S. investigators to assist Transport Canada. “Per international protocols under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Annex 13, any information about the investigation will be released by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada,” 4:55 p.m.So far, Montreal and Winnipeg airports have notified travellers to expect delays with Toronto-bound flights due to the airplane crash. Several flights bound for Toronto are also being diverted to Ottawa International Airport, with at least four flights having landed there. 4:49 p.m.U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a post on X that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is on its way to Toronto Pearson, adding Transport Canada will lead the investigation. |