A Delta Airlines plane has crashed while landing at Toronto Pearson Airport and is pictured upside down with emergency teams responding to the incident on the runway
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Toronto: Passengers evacuate plane after it crashes
A Delta Air Lines plane has crashed while landing at an airport in Toronto and is pictured upside down on the runway.
Shocking images show the plane having apparently flipped with emergency crews at the scene at Toronto Pearson Airport. The plane was arriving at the Canadian city from Minneapolis when the accident happened with blizzard conditions on the ground.
One of the passengers, John Nelson, speaking of the incident on Facebook said: “In Toronto just landed our plane crashed it’s upside down.” He was talking as he appeared to be filming from the runway and looking at the plane as people were being helped to safety in the snow and ice.
He added: “It’s upside down everybody…. most people appear to be okay believe it or not.” And John told just how lucky they were as there was an explosion shortly afterwards. “I landed and was stuck upside down. It exploded shortly after the video,” he said.
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Peel Paramedic Services say at least eight people have been injured following the crash but it is unclear how serious are their conditions. There were reportedly close to 80 people on board. A local journalist wrote on X: It’s bad at the airport. Fire and police everywhere!” Another video clip that was taken from a passenger inside another plane at the airport shows black smoke coming up from the crashed aircraft after it had landed.
It appears that while the footage from the scene has led to fears of a deadly crash, that somehow everyone has been “accounted for”, said the airport. “Toronto Pearson is aware of an incident upon landing involving a Delta Airlines plane arriving from Minneapolis. Emergency teams are responding. All passengers and crew are accounted for,” stated a spokesperson for the airport.
It is understood that it was Delta Airlines CRJ-900, operating as Delta Flight 4819 from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) to Toronto (YYZ), that was involved in the incident. Data from Flightradar24 showed an Orange Air ambulance helicopter landing at the airport following the crash.
The Peel Regional Police has also said it is responding to an accident at the Pearson Airport, later adding it is its “understanding” all the passengers are out and safe. Staff at the airport told CTV News they have shut down all arrivals and departures at this time. While the airport did not immediately confirm that, Pearson’s website lists multiple delays impacting arrivals and departures.
Many people have taken to social media to comment on the incident and have told of their shock at the state of the plane. “Thank god nobody was killed, I can’t believe the plane remained in tact Pearson should not be accepting aircraft with the current runway conditions,” wrote one person on X. Another said: “Could have ended very badly, thankful every came off the airplane unscathed…” A further person commented: “That’s heartbreaking news. My thoughts are with everyone affected—stay safe..”
In an earlier X post, the airport shared an image of the runway and gave an insight into how bad the weather has been. It stated: “Here’s a look at part of our airfield this morning as the clean up continues from this weekend’s storm. Our crews worked all weekend to keep the roughly 5 million square metres of airfield clear of snow to keep planes arriving and departing safely.” Transport Canada has stated: “We are aware of and are closely monitoring the Delta Air Lines incident at Toronto Pearson.”
A correspondent for local outlet WCPO said: “Toronto has experienced a level of snow that they really haven’t seen in years over the course of the weekend. There were delays on delays. The roads have been very bad all weekend. The tarmac is incredibly icy as well.”
And a member of staff working at Toronto’s Pearson International airport watched the plane skid and crash land. He said: “It appears that everyone got out alive – it’s a miracle. I cannot believe that We’ve had horrendous weather here for several days. Two huge storms. There’s been so much snow.”
