A plane operated by an American regional airline flipped upon landing at Canada’s largest airport on Monday, leaving 18 people injured, with three in critical condition. The incident occurred at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport when the CRJ900 jet, operated by Endeavor Air for Delta Airlines, was arriving from Minneapolis, USA.
The incident unfolded around 3:30 PM local time as the aircraft landed on a runway covered with a layer of snow. Images from the scene depicted significant damage to the aircraft’s tail and one wing, as airport crews worked to extinguish a fire that had broken out.
In the immediate aftermath, all incoming flights to Pearson were either canceled or diverted to other airports, including Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, and Quebec City. While flight operations resumed three hours later, two runways remain closed for investigative purposes.
Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the accident, although it has been confirmed that no other aircraft were involved. Weather conditions at the time were challenging, with winds reaching 40 kilometers per hour and temperatures at minus seven degrees Celsius.
Eyewitnesses reported that the plane did not descend vertically but rather spun on its axis, causing one of the engines to strike the ground and resulting in the aircraft flipping over. Following the collision, the plane caught fire, sending plumes of smoke into the sky.
Peter Kokovo, a passenger on the flight, recounted the terrifying experience to CNN, stating, “We felt upside down and tried to get out as quickly as possible.”
Airport officials confirmed that out of the 80 passengers aboard, 18 sustained injuries, including a 60-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, both of whom were airlifted to a Toronto hospital.
Canada’s Minister of Transport, Anita Anand, assured full governmental cooperation in the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, the Governor of Minnesota expressed thoughts and prayers for those affected.
This incident raises significant concerns regarding aviation safety in Canada, with relevant bodies reviewing the situation to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
