The Delta Air Lines at the accident sight at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

An investigation is underway after a Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday (February 17), leaving 18 passengers injured amid harsh winter weather conditions. The incident occurred following a snowstorm that had dumped over 8.6 inches of snow in the area, causing disruptions to flights and airport operations. The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ900 operated by Delta’s subsidiary Endeavor Air, was carrying 80 people, including 76 passengers and four crew members. Three of the injured individuals, including a child, sustained critical injuries, according to a Canadian air ambulance official. The remaining 15 injured passengers were transported to local hospitals for medical treatment, some of whom have since been discharged. Flight DL4819 had departed from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and landed at Toronto Pearson at approximately 2:13pm local time (1913 GMT). Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft veered off course, flipped onto its roof, and came to a halt near the intersection of Runway 23 and Runway 15. Video footage from the scene showed severe damage to the aircraft, with at least one wing detached from the fuselage. Passenger John Nelson, who was on board the flight, described the terrifying ordeal. “We hit the ground, and we were sideways, and then we were upside down,” Nelson told CNN. “I was able to just unbuckle and sort of fall and push myself to the ground. Some people were kind of hanging and needed help getting down, while others managed to free themselves.” Toronto Pearson Fire Chief Todd Aitken stated that the runway was dry at the time of landing and that there were no crosswind conditions. However, flight tracking website FlightRadar24 reported that wind conditions at the time of the crash indicated “a gusting crosswind and blowing snow,” potentially contributing to the accident. Several pilots who reviewed videos of the incident have questioned Aitken’s statement, suggesting weather conditions may have played a more significant role. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, with assistance from the US National Transportation Safety Board. Authorities have yet to determine whether mechanical failure, pilot error, or environmental factors were primarily responsible. Aviation experts have noted that while incidents of planes flipping over on landing are rare, there have been previous cases involving McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft. These include a fatal FedEx crash in Tokyo in 2009 and a China Airlines accident in Hong Kong in 1999. Flights at Toronto Pearson have resumed, but airport president Deborah Flint warned of continued operational disruptions. “We are very grateful that there is no loss of life and that injuries were relatively minor,” she said at a press conference. “However, two runways remain closed while investigations are underway, and passengers should expect some delays.” ICA/Expat Media
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