A Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis crash-landed at Toronto Pearson Airport, overturning on the runway, yet all 80 people on board, including 76 passengers and four crew members, miraculously survived. While emergency services confirmed that most injuries were minor, three individuals—a child, a man in his 60s, and a woman in her 40s—suffered critical injuries and were rushed to the hospital. Images from the scene showed the aircraft flipped upside down on the snow-covered tarmac, missing at least one wing.
Emergency responders, including three air ambulance helicopters and two land ambulances, were dispatched swiftly to the crash site. Deborah Flint, CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, praised the rapid and efficient response of emergency teams, crediting their efforts for preventing loss of life. Fire crews worked quickly to secure the scene, spraying the wreckage with foam as passengers climbed out of the overturned plane with the assistance of airport staff. Witness videos captured the chaotic moments after the crash, with some passengers running away from the aircraft as smoke rose from the wreckage.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Initial reports suggested strong winds and gusts exceeding 40 mph, but Toronto Pearson Airport’s fire chief, Todd Aitken, stated that runway conditions were dry and there were no crosswinds at the time of landing. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has deployed a team to gather evidence and assess the circumstances surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, two runways at the airport will remain closed for several days, leading to flight delays and cancellations, leaving some travelers stranded in Toronto.
The airport had already been grappling with severe weather conditions in recent days, with heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures disrupting flight schedules. On the day of the crash, the airport had warned of worsening conditions, as airlines worked to recover from the previous weekend’s snowstorm. The crash adds to a growing list of aviation incidents in North America, including a deadly mid-air collision earlier this month near Washington, D.C., involving a passenger plane and a military helicopter.
Officials from both Canada and the United States, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, expressed relief that there were no fatalities and praised the quick response of first responders. While many passengers now face extended travel delays, the survival of everyone on board remains a remarkable outcome in what could have been a far more tragic event.
