Editorial note: This story has been updated with new information.
All passengers and crewmembers are accounted for after a Delta Air Lines regional jet inbound from Minneapolis flipped over while landing Monday afternoon at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ).
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Delta Connection jet crashed while landing in Toronto at around 2:45 p.m. EST.
All passengers and crewmembers on board the CRJ900 aircraft were evacuated, the FAA confirmed to TPG.
Images from the aftermath of the crash showed the Delta Connection aircraft flipped over on its top on the Toronto runway amid frigid, wintry conditions at the airport. There were 76 passengers and four crewmembers on board at the time, the carrier said.
Delta Connection regional jet involved in accident
The jet, operated by Delta regional subsidiary Endeavor Air, was operating as Delta flight 4819. It was inbound to Toronto from the carrier’s Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) hub, after departing MSP at 11:34 a.m. CST, Delta's flight status page showed.
"Our primary focus is taking care of those impacted," Delta said in a statement Monday afternoon.
17 customers on board the Delta jet were transported to area hospitals, airport officials said at a news conference Monday evening.
“We are very grateful that there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries," Deborah Flint, Toronto Pearson Airport president and CEO said.
Canada aviation authorities lead investigation
With the accident occurring in Toronto, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada will lead the investigation, according to both the FAA and the Canadian agency, which said it had deployed teams to the airport.
However, FAA investigators are also en route to Toronto, and will assist in the crash investigation, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed.
"I’ve been in touch with my counterpart in Canada to offer assistance and help with the investigation," Duffy said in a social media post Monday afternoon.
The National Transportation Safety Board, also en route to Canada, is leading the U.S. delegation of investigators, the agency said.
Monday’s crash comes weeks after a deadly collision involving an American Airlines regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on Jan. 29, which remains under investigation by the NTSB.
Delta responds to crash
Delta CEO Ed Bastian released a statement late Monday afternoon on social media:
"The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident at Toronto-Pearson International Airport," Bastian wrote. "I want to express my thanks to the many Delta and Endeavor team members and the first responders on site."
Following the crash, Delta activated its Passenger Inquiry Center, the airline shared. Family members and loved ones of customers involved in the accident can contact Delta at the following numbers:
- 1-800-997-5454 in the U.S.
- 1-866-629-4775 in Canada.
Flights resume
Toronto Pearson halted flights amid the emergency response Monday afternoon on the runway.
As of 5 p.m. EST, departures and arrivals resumed, the airport announced.
However, two runways will remain closed amid the ongoing investigation.
However, residual flight disruptions mounted due to both the accident and winter weather conditions Monday. As of 5:45 p.m. EST Monday, around a quarter of departures from Pearson had been canceled, according to FlightAware. More than a third of flights departing the airport had been delayed.
“We do expect there will be some operational impact and some delays at the airport over the next few days while the two runways remain closed for the investigation," Flint said at Monday evening's news conference.
This is a developing story. We'll have more details as they become available.
