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Crash of Delta flight 4819 in Toronto: What We Know

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Toronto Pearson International Airport was the scene of a startling incident this Monday when a Delta Air Lines plane overturned upon landing, leaving 18 people injured. The aircraft, a CRJ900 operated by Endeavor Air, was performing flight DL4819 from Minneapolis-St. Paul when the accident occurred.

Accident details

Flight DL4819, carrying 76 passengers and four crew members, landed in Toronto at 14:13 after an 86-minute journey. However, the landing maneuver ended in an unexpected rollover. 18 people were injured, three of them critically, and were taken to nearby hospitals, although several have already been discharged.

Videos recorded at the scene show the aircraft upside down with at least one of its wings detached.

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Weather Conditions at the Time of Accident

Toronto Pearson was experiencing strong winds and freezing temperatures following an intense snowstorm that left more than 22 cm of accumulation at the airport. However, Toronto Pearson Fire Chief Todd Aitken said late on Monday the runway was dry and there were no crosswind conditions, but several pilots Reuters spoke to who had seen videos of the incident pushed back against this comment.

U.S. aviation safety expert and pilot John Cox said there was an average crosswind of 19 knots (22 mph) from the right as it was landing, but he noted this was an average, and gusts would go up and down.

“It’s gusty so they are constantly going to have to be making adjustments in the air speed, adjustments in the vertical profile and adjustments in the lateral profile,” he said of the pilots, adding that “it’s normal for what professional pilots do.”

Ongoing Investigation

Canadian authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, particularly the reason why the right wing detached. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has deployed a team of specialists to examine the aircraft and the surrounding environment. Additionally, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will collaborate in the investigation.

The aircraft’s manufacturer, Bombardier, sold the CRJ program to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2020. The Japanese company has expressed its willingness to fully cooperate in the investigation.

Impact on Airport Operations

Although flights have resumed at Toronto Pearson, airport president Deborah Flint warned of possible delays due to the closure of two runways for the investigation. She highlighted the work of emergency teams in the rapid evacuation and care of passengers, which helped prevent a greater tragedy.

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