Delta plane crash UPDATES: At least 18 injured after jet flips upside down at Toronto Pearson International Airport
A DELTA plane crashed and flipped on its roof at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada injuring at least 18 people, including a child.
The incident happened as the plane was traveling from Minneapolis to Toronto on Monday afternoon.
Airport officials confirmed that emergency teams responded to the crash and that "all passengers and crew are accounted for."
Deborah Flint, the chief executive of Greater Toronto Airports Authority, told reporters at a press conference: "We are very grateful there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries."
Ed Bastian, the chief executive of Delta, said in a statement that the “hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected”.
The cause of the crash has not yet been released.
You can follow our blog, below, for all the latest updates ...
'We just wanted out of that aircraft'
Peter Carlson was traveling to Toronto for a paramedics conference when it crashed.
He told CBC News that when he took off his seat belt he smashed on to the ceiling, which had become the floor.
He smelled gas, saw aviation fuel cascading down the cabin windows and knew he needed to get out but said his fatherly intuition and paramedic skills kicked in. He looked for those he could help.
Carlson and another man assisted a mother and her young son out of the plane and he then dropped on to the tarmac.
"Snow was blowing and it felt like I was stepping onto tundra," he said.
"I didn't care how cold it was, didn't care how far I had to walk, how long I had to stand. All of us just wanted to be out of the aircraft."
Analysis disputed
Tracking website Flightradar24 also said indications suggested a "gusting crosswind and blowing snow" but the airport's fire chief, Todd Aitken, disputed that analysis.
Emergency personnel got to the plane within a few minutes and the response "went as planned", Mr Aitken added.
Miracle escape
At least one of the wings was broken off after the crash but the main body appeared intact, according to video of the scene.
The Canadian airport had more than 22cm (8.6in) of snow over the weekend, and earlier on Monday had said it was dealing with high winds and freezing temperatures.
Audio from the control tower shows it warned the Delta flight of a possible air flow "bump" on the approach.
Helicopter returned to help
AP is reporting the plane came to a rest at the intersection of Runways 23 and 15L, not far from the start of the runway.
Just after the crash, tower controllers spoke with the crew of a medical helicopter that had just left Pearson and was returning to help.
Helicopter returned to help
AP is reporting the plane came to a rest at the intersection of Runways 23 and 15L, not far from the start of the runway.
Just after the crash, tower controllers spoke with the crew of a medical helicopter that had just left Pearson and was returning to help.
Crash – updates coming through
It turns out the Delta flight was cleared to land at about 2:10pm on Monday and audio recordings show the control tower warned the pilots of a possible air flow bump on the approach.
"It sounds to me like a controller trying to be helpful, meaning the wind is going to give you a bumpy ride coming down, that you're going to be up and down through the glide path," said John Cox, CEO of aviation safety consulting firm Safety Operating Systems in St. Petersburg, Florida.
What we know so far
The incident happened as the plane was traveling from Minneapolis to Toronto on Monday afternoon.
Airport officials confirmed that emergency teams responded to the crash and that "all passengers and crew are accounted for."
Last major crash at Pearson 20 years ago
The last major crash at Pearson was on August 2, 2005, when an Airbus A340 landing from Paris skidded off the runway and burst into flames amid stormy weather.
All 309 passengers and crew aboard Air France Flight 358 survived the crash.
Fourth major aviation incident in three weeks
The crash was the fourth major aviation accident in North America in the past three weeks.
A commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, killing 67 people.
A medical transportation plane crashed in Philadelphia on Jan. 31, killing the six people on board and another person on the ground.
And on Feb 6, 10 people were killed in a plane crash in Alaska.
Confirmed: 18 passengers taken to hospital
Toronto Pearson Fire Chief Todd Aitken said 18 passengers were taken to hospital.
Ornge air ambulance said it transported one pediatric patient to Torontos SickKids hospital with two injured adults taken to other hospitals in the city.
Emergency personnel reached the plane within a few minutes and Aitken said the response went as planned.
He added: "The runway was dry and there was no cross-wind conditions."
Statements – Delta and Airports Authority
Deborah Flint, the chief executive of Greater Toronto Airports Authority, told reporters at a press conference: "We are very grateful there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries."
Ed Bastian, the chief executive of Delta, said in a statement that the "hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected."
No other details of the crash – including any cause – were released.
No details on crash released from 'brief' news conferences
Canadian authorities held two brief news conferences but provided no details on the crash, reports AP.
Video posted to social media showed the aftermath with the Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR overturned, the fuselage seemingly intact and firefighters dousing what was left of the fire as passengers climbed out and walked across the tarmac.
Landing was 'very forceful', says passenger
Peter Carlson, a passenger traveling to Toronto for a paramedics conference, said the landing was very forceful.
He told CBC News: "All the sudden everything just kind of went sideways and then next thing I know its kind of a blink and I'm upside down still strapped in."
Cause of crash 'still not clear'
Snow blown by winds gusting to 40 mph swirled when the flight from Minneapolis carrying 76 passengers and four crew attempted to land at around 2:15 pm on Monday, reports Associated Press.
Communications between the tower and pilot were normal on approach and it's not clear what went so drastically wrong when the plane touched down.
We'll bring you all the latest updates as they happen.
In pictures – horror crash
Here are some more images coming in from Canada after the Delta jet flipped upside down.
Horror moment Delta plane crashes in fireball before flipping onto its roof as all 80 people on-board survive in a miracle escape. 
Emergency response vehicles are seen nearby the jet on Monday (above and below). 
Horror pictures show the aftermath of the plane crash
Credit: Facebook / John Nelson 
Credit: Reuters 
Credit: Reuters Chilling audio captured moments after the horror crash
A medical helicopter in the air near the Toronto airport described the scene in audio obtained from the moments after the crash.
"LifeFlight 1, Medevac, just so you are aware there are people outside walking around the aircraft there," an air traffic controller worker told the helicopter pilot, according to LiveATC audio obtained by .
"Yeah, we've got it. The aircraft is upside down and burning," the helicopter pilot replied.
Probe into the crash on the way, says FAA
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada would head up the investigation and provide any updates.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is leading a team of U.S. investigators to assist in the Canadian investigation.
It is at least the fourth major aviation mishap in North America in the past month.
Passengers seen crawling out of the Delta plane after Horror crash
Passengers could be seen crawling out of the Delta plane, which had 80 people on board traveling from Minneapolis to Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada when it slammed into the runway.
Paramedics told The U.S. Sun of the 15 people treated for injuries, two were airlifted to trauma centers for critical but non-life-threatening injuries.
One child was also taken to a children's hospital after the crash. No one died in the incident.
Some of the 80 people aboard the Delta plane crawling off the aircraftCredit: Facebook / John Nelson Delta CEO releases statement
“The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident at Toronto-Pearson International Airport,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a newly released statement.
“I want to express my thanks to the many Delta and Endeavor team members and the first responders on site."
Delta also updated the time of when the crash happened, now saying it happened at 14:15 EST.
Toronto Pearson International airport were expecting busy day of flights before crash
Toronto Pearson International airport revealed they were working hard to make sure everything ran smoothly after adverse weather, before the accident occurred.
In a post on X, they said: "The snow has stopped coming down, but frigid temperatures and high winds are moving in.
"Our airfield team has continued their work throughout the night to clear critical areas so planes can safely arrive and depart."
Aviation expert on Toronto plane crash
Scott Keyes, founder and chief flight expert at the Going travel app, shared insights with The U.S. Sun following the Delta plane crash at Torotno Pearson International Airport on February 17.
Regarding the cause of the Toronto plane crash:
"It’s too early to speculate what precisely happened, I’m afraid. It’s certainly safe to call it a “freak accident” and that may be understating just how rare a scene like this is. An inverted passenger plane is something moviegoers saw in Denzel Washington’s 2012 film Flight—not something we see in reality until today."Regarding smaller jets having been involved in recent crashes:
"While it’s certainly unexpected to have two major incidents in a row take place on small aircraft, it’s not totally shocking. Around one-third of commercial aircraft in the US are smaller planes like the Delta CRJ seen today. We’ll wait and see for the investigators’ report, but given the differing circumstances of Toronto and DCA, I think it’s highly unlikely that this is a built-in aircraft issue similar to what we saw with successive 737 MAX crashes."Regarding air travel safety:
"You are far, far more likely to get in an accident on your drive to the airport than on your flight from the airport. On a per-mile basis, your mortality risk in a car is over 100 times higher than in a passenger plane. The fact that incidents like these grab so much attention is because of their rarity."-- Scott Keyes, founder and chief flight expert at the Going travel app
YUL Montréal–Trudeau International Airport preparing for diversions
YUL Montréal–Trudeau International Airport have announced they are taking on diverted flights due to the crash.
A statement on X reads: “Due to an accident involving a @Delta Airlines aircraft at @TorontoPearson's airport, #YUL is preparing to receive several diversion flights. Our teams are already in action to welcome them. However, given the large number of passengers at YUL, please note that the situation may cause delays at various points along the passenger process. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”
Delta Airlines release full statement
Delta Airlines have released a statement regarding the crash.
It reads: “Delta Connection flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air using a CRJ900 aircraft, was involved in a single-aircraft accident at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) around 3:30p ET on Monday. The flight originated from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
“Initial reports were that there are no fatalities. Several customers with injuries were transported to area hospitals. Our primary focus is taking care of those impacted.
“The flight was carrying a total of 80 people – 76 passengers and four crew.
“YYZ was closed shortly after the incident occurred. Delta is working to connect with customers traveling from, to or through YYZ who should also monitor the status of their flight via the Fly Delta app.
“Endeavor Air is a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines headquartered in Minneapolis.
“Delta will provide updates at news.delta.com.”
Ontario premier also speaks out regarding accident
Ontario premier Doug Ford posted his relief regarding the lack of casualties.
Ford wrote on X: "I’m relieved there are no casualties after the incident at Toronto Pearson. Provincial officials are in contact with the airport and local authorities and will provide any help that’s needed."