Delta flight flips upside down on landing at Toronto Airport, 18 injured amid snowstorm

A Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis overturned upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, injuring 18 of the 80 people aboard. The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. local time, as strong winds and blowing snow from a recent snowstorm affected the airport’s conditions. The flight, a CRJ-900LR regional jet, had been cleared for landing when it flipped over at the intersection of Runways 23 and 15L. Emergency crews responded quickly to the scene, with firefighters dousing the aircraft after it came to a stop.

Three individuals sustained critical injuries, including a child, and were immediately airlifted to nearby trauma centers and a children's hospital. The remaining injured passengers were transported by ground ambulances to local hospitals for treatment. Despite the serious nature of the crash, all passengers and crew members were accounted for and no fatalities were reported.

Toronto Pearson officials confirmed the details of the incident and stated that all necessary emergency procedures were followed. "We are aware of an incident involving a Delta Air Lines plane arriving from Minneapolis, and emergency teams are responding," a statement from the airport read. The airport also acknowledged the disruption caused by the crash, which resulted in over 40 delayed flights.

According to Canadian authorities, the weather conditions at the time included gusting winds of up to 40 mph (65 kph) and snow blowing across the airport grounds. The temperature was recorded at approximately -8.6°C (16.5°F). The control tower had warned the pilots of possible turbulence on the approach, although it is still unclear what caused the aircraft to flip upon landing. The runway was reported to be dry, and no crosswind conditions were present at the time.

The crash occurred just days after other aviation incidents in North America, with this being the fourth major accident within three weeks. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, focusing on the condition of the plane and other factors that may have led to the aircraft’s inversion. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is assisting with the inquiry, as the CRJ-900LR aircraft is a widely used regional jet in North America.