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BREAKING: Delta regional jet involved in crash landing in Toronto; all occupants ‘accounted for,’ airport says

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Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.

All passengers and crewmembers are accounted for after a Delta Air Lines regional jet was involved in an emergency incident 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.

Widely shared images on social media showed the Delta Connection jet 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.

KATHERINE KY CHENG/GETTY IMAGES

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, having departing MSP at 11:34 a.m. CST, Delta’s records show.

“Our primary focus is taking care of those impacted,” Delta said in a statement Monday afternoon.

18 customers on board the Delta jet were transported to area hospitals, the airline confirmed.

Three people — including a child — were in critical condition, Lawrence Saindon, superintendent with Peel Regional Paramedic Services told TPG.

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, residual flight disruptions mounted due to both the accident and winter weather conditions Monday. As of 5:45 p.m. EST Monday, more than a fifth of departures from Pearson had been canceled, according to FlightAware. Around a third of flights departing the airport had been delayed.

This is a developing story. We’ll have more details as they become available.