A Delta Airlines plane crashed while attempting to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday, flipping upside down onto the snowy runway. In the wake of the crash, two of the airport’s runways will remain closed as officials conduct an investigation, according to the airport’s CEO, Deborah Flint, as reported by CNN.
During a press briefing, Flint confirmed that following the crash, all arrivals and departures from the airport’s three other runways were temporarily halted. However, they were reopened around 5 p.m. local time. The two affected runways will remain closed “for the rest of tonight and into the next several days” as the investigation continues, Flint stated.
The crash left 17 passengers injured, with Delta previously reporting that 18 passengers were hurt. Of the 76 passengers on board, 22 were Canadian, while the others came from various countries. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported.
Delta confirmed in a statement that Delta Connection flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air using a CRJ-900 aircraft, was involved in a single-aircraft accident at Toronto Pearson at around 2:15 p.m. ET on Monday. The flight had originated from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
“Initial reports indicate there are no fatalities and 18 customers with injuries have been transported to area hospitals. Our primary focus is taking care of those impacted,” the airline said.
The statement also noted that Delta had activated its Passenger Inquiry Center for families and loved ones of those affected. In Canada, individuals can reach the center at 1-866-629-4775, and in the U.S., they can contact 1-800-997-5454 for more information.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed sympathy for those affected by the crash, stating, “The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident at Toronto Pearson International Airport. I want to express my thanks to the many Delta and Endeavor team members and the first responders on site.” Bastian added that Delta was working to confirm further details and would provide updates on its website as soon as possible.
The flight involved 80 people in total, including 76 passengers and four crew members.
