A Delta Air Lines flight crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday (17 February) afternoon, skidding along the runway in flames before flipping over and coming to a halt upside down. Despite the severe damage, all 80 people on board survived.
The CRJ-900 aircraft, operating as Delta Air Lines flight DL4819, was arriving from Minneapolis when it struck the runway, slid for some distance, and overturned. The impact resulted in the loss of the aircraft's tail and an entire wing.
Emergency services responded swiftly, extinguishing the flames and assisting passengers, some of whom had been left hanging upside down in their seats before evacuating onto the snowy runway.
Delta reported on Tuesday morning (18 February) that 21 injured passengers were transported to local hospitals, with 19 later released.
Experts have suggested that a hard landing or weather conditions may have contributed to the crash. At the time of landing, air traffic controllers had warned of strong winds, with gusts of up to 61 km/h, though the runway was reportedly dry.
Aviation experts have credited the aircraft’s design and safety features for preventing fatalities, as the aircraft had broken apart as intended, with the detachment of the wings preventing further structural damage. Additionally, high-impact seats and secure seatbelts played a role in minimising injuries.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash.