A Delta Air Lines regional jet crashed while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
In a social media post, the airport operator said it was “aware of an incident upon landing involving a Delta (Air Lines) plane arriving from Minneapolis.” The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that there were no fatalities.
“Delta Air Lines Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, crashed while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada around 2:45 p.m. local time on Monday, February 17. All 80 people on board were evacuated,” the FAA said in a statement. “The CRJ-900 departed Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will be in charge of the investigation and will provide any updates.”
The airport was closed to arriving flights in the immediate aftermath of the accident. It has since reopened, but the FAA warns that inbound flights are still being delayed significantly at their departure airports.
Delta Air Lines also confirmed the incident in a statement to USA TODAY.
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“The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident at Toronto-Pearson International Airport,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a statement. “I want to express my thanks to the many Delta and Endeavor team members and the first responders on site. We are working to confirm the details and will share the most current information on news.delta.com as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, please take care and stay safe.”
Endeavor Air is a wholly-owned regional subsidiary of Delta, based in Minneapolis.
How many people were on board the plane in the Toronto crash?
According to the Delta, all 80 people – 76 passengers and four crewmembers – on board were evacuated.
A total of 18 people were injured and transported to the hospital, according to Delta.
Of those injured, two adults were taken to two different trauma centers by air ambulance and one child was transported to a children’s hospital, according to Saindon. All other injuries range from minor to moderate.
Ornge, which provides air ambulance services, confirmed that it responded to Toronto Pearson International Airport for an “aviation occurrence.”
One pediatric patient was transported to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, said spokesperson Joshua McNamara.
Two adults were flown by helicopter to Toronto hospitals, including an adult male patient in his 60s and an adult female patient in her 40s, according to McNamara.
— Thao Nguyen and Zach Wichter
‘It’s a lot of chatter and uneasy looks’
Zach Nolan learned his Air Canada flight was delayed upon arrival at the Toronto airport on Monday afternoon, but he didn’t know why. After visiting Montreal for the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey tournament, he used the extra time to watch a match between Canada and Finland. He was at a bar during a layover en route to see relatives in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Then, a friend texted him that a plane had crashed just outside.
“I look out (the window) behind me, and I’m 90% sure that I’m looking at the plane upside down,” said the 24-year-old Winnipeg resident. Red lights flashed on the runway; flyers filled multiple seats at gates as they waited to learn what would become of their itineraries amid a ground stop.
“It’s a lot of chatter and a lot of uneasy looks,” he said. Nolan, who was traveling with his parents and younger brother, later learned his flight had been canceled after being pushed back multiple times. Air Canada rebooked them for Tuesday morning, and they plan to get a hotel for the night.
“If I had to sum (the scene at the airport) up in one word, I’d say uncertainty,” he said.
— Nathan Diller
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Investigation underway
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (Canada’s version of the U.S.’s National Transportation Safety Board) will lead the investigation into this incident and said it is sending investigators to the scene.
“The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators following an accident involving an aircraft operated by Delta Airlines, that occurred today at the Toronto / Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Ontario. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence,” a statement from the agency said.
The NTSB confirmed in a post on social media that it would be investigators to assist, but added that all official communications about the inquiry will come from Canada’s TSB.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on X, formerly Twitter, that he’s in communication with his Canadian counterpart “to offer assistance and help with the investigation.”
Delta travel waiver
Delta said it had canceled its remaining flights to Toronto for Monday and issued a travel waiver for passengers traveling to, from or through YYZ through Feb. 20. Full details of the waiver are available on Delta’s website.
On the heels of another accident
This incident comes on the heels of the widely reported mid-air collision over the Potomac River between an Army Black Hawk and an American Airlines regional jet. That event, currently under intense scrutiny by the National Transportation Safety Board for potential radio communication lapses and altimeter errors, has heightened concerns over regional flight safety and operational protocols in the industry. Further updates are expected.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at [email protected].
