Airport emergency services assessed the rapid response to the incident as life-saving, preventing potential casualties. The crash occurred immediately after the landing of the aircraft in strong winds and freezing temperatures following a snowstorm, which had preceded the incident. During the emergency, as a result of which the aircraft overturned and caught fire, no fatalities were recorded.
Passenger John Nelson, who filmed the incident after the crash, described the sudden tipping of the aircraft as a "sideways" maneuver before the rollover. Despite the chaotic circumstances, all 80 passengers survived, many of whom were assisted by the first responders.
At the Toronto-Pearson Airport, a regional plane operated by Delta Air Lines was overturned in conditions of strong wind after the snowstorm, and 18 out of 80 people on board sustained injuries. Among the injured were three, including a child, who were in critical condition.
The incident involved a CRJ900 aircraft, operated by Delta's regional subsidiary Endeavor Air. The aircraft with 76 passengers and four crew members was arriving from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by Canadian authorities.
Officials note that the survival of all passengers, despite the unusual circumstances, underscores the progress in safety technology in aviation.
