What Caused the Plane Crash in Toronto and How Did Passengers Escape? | World News
Authorities are working to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the miraculous escape of eighty individuals after a Delta Air Lines aircraft unexpectedly flipped upside down upon landing in Toronto.
The cause of the incident remains unclear as the plane – which had 76 passengers and four crew members – landed on Monday.
While eighteen individuals sustained injuries, the fact that there were no fatalities has been considered extraordinary.
Where did the flight originate?
The twin-engine Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR jet was concluding its journey from Minneapolis, located approximately 700 miles away, when the landing at Toronto’s Pearson Airport went disastrously awry.
The Canadian city has recently experienced heavy snowfall, with winds reaching gusts of 40mph at the time the flight attempted to land around 2:15 PM local time (7:15 PM UK time) on Monday.
Communication between the control tower and the pilot was reported as normal during the aircraft’s approach.
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‘Dry runway and no crosswind’
What occurred during the landing?
For reasons yet to be determined, the 118-foot jet turned completely over after making contact with the runway – leaving the passengers suspended upside down within the cabin.
Peter Carlson, a passenger en route to Toronto for a paramedics’ conference, described the landing as “very forceful.”
“In an instant, everything shifted sideways, and the next thing I knew, I was upside down, still secured in my seat,” he shared with CBC News.
Emergency services reached the aircraft within minutes, and Toronto Pearson Fire Chief Todd Aitken noted that the response operation “went as planned”.
Images and footage from the incident reveal that the airplane’s fuselage appeared intact as firefighters extinguished remnants of the fire, with visible scorch marks near the tail section.
Passengers managed to exit the aircraft and walk across the runway.
The response from firefighters was commended. Pic: AP
Were there any injuries in the crash?
Every person aboard the aircraft survived, though Mr. Aitken reported that 18 passengers were transported to the hospital.
Earlier, Ornge air ambulance announced the transport of one pediatric patient to Toronto’s SickKids hospital along with two injured adults to various other hospitals in the city.
A representative from the Peel Region paramedic service informed Sky News that the injuries varied from minor to serious, but none were deemed life-threatening.
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‘The crew performed excellently’
Former air traffic controller Todd Yeary remarked on the “remarkable” fact that no one lost their life in the incident.
Regarding the weather conditions, he stated, “There’s speculation about whether extreme wind gusts affected the landing control during descent.”
He added that ice on the runway could also have played a role in the outcome.
“What is clear is that the crew executed an outstanding job ensuring everyone evacuated the airplane safely,” he noted.
Chief Aitken confirmed, “The runway was dry and there was no crosswind present.”