TORONTO (Canada), Feb 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Delta flight crashed while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday and the plane was seen upside-down on the snow-covered ground.
Seventeen passengers have been taken to hospitals, airport officials said.
Peel Regional Paramedic Services said none of the injuries were considered to be life-threatening.
Three people suffered critical injuries — one child, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 40s — according to Ornge, which provides medical transport. The child was transported to the Hospital for Sick Children and is listed in good condition, the hospital said Monday evening.
Among the others, 12 people have mild injuries, Peel Regional Paramedics Services said.
The 76 passengers and four crew on board Flight 4819 were evacuated following the single-aircraft accident, according to Delta and the Federal Aviation Administration. Among the passengers were 22 Canadians, Toronto Pearson President and CEO Deborah Flint said.
The flight originated in Minneapolis, US.
“Our primary focus is taking care of those impacted,” Delta said in a statement.
What caused the plane to flip and catch fire was not immediately clear but the investigation is already underway, sources said. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will lead the investigation, the FAA said. Investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are assisting.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on social media, “I’ve been in touch with my counterpart in Canada to offer assistance and help with the investigation.”
The incident occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. ET Monday, Delta said.
The Toronto Airport temporarily stopped flights in the wake of the crash, with departures and arrivals resuming as of 5 p.m. ET Monday, the airport said. Two runways remain closed, which may impact operations, Flint said.
While the cause is unknown, the crash unfolded during blowing snow and strong wind gusts in the region. Winds reached 40 mph on the ground and were even stronger several hundred feet in the air.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow wrote on social media, “I’m relieved to learn that all passengers and crew are accounted for after today’s plane crash at Toronto Pearson. Thank you to the first responders, crew and airport staff for their quick actions and commitment to keeping everyone safe.” — NNN-AGENCIES
