Delays and cancellations are expected at Toronto Pearson International Airport for the next few days as investigators examine the scene of a plane crash that injured more than 20 passengers on Monday afternoon. Two runways remain closed as the investigation continues.
Latest Updates:
- Twenty investigators from the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) are now on-site.
- Two of the airport’s five runways will remain closed for at least 48 hours.
- Officials warn of ongoing delays and cancellations for several days.
- Delta Airlines reports that 19 of 21 hospitalized passengers have been released.
- Passengers sustained injuries such as back sprains, head injuries, and nausea.
3 p.m.
Travelers at Toronto Pearson continue to experience delays and cancellations following the crash.
One passenger said she waited over five hours for her flight and received multiple delay notifications. Another traveler, originally scheduled to fly on Monday, stayed overnight at the airport and is still waiting for his flight to be rescheduled.
NAV Canada reports that some flights are delayed due to limited runway availability.
12:45 p.m.
Paramedics confirm that injured passengers suffered from back sprains, head injuries, and nausea, with some experiencing vomiting due to fuel exposure.
12:30 p.m.
A team of twenty Transportation Safety Board investigators, along with officials from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, are at the airport to assess the crash site.
The investigation is expected to take about 48 hours, according to the CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. She explained that once the aircraft is removed, a full inspection will be conducted before reopening the runway.
While she did not speculate on the cause of the crash, she noted that the incident caused hundreds of additional flight cancellations. Of the 1,006 scheduled flights on Monday, 462 were canceled.
Airport operations had already been affected by two snowstorms, and Monday was supposed to be a recovery day to address flight disruptions. The crash, however, added to the delays.
Currently, the airport’s longest east-west and north-south runways are unavailable, and expected weather conditions may further impact recovery efforts. Passengers should anticipate continued delays and cancellations.
12:25 p.m.
The airport official praised the Delta crew for their quick and effective response, calling them heroes. The crew successfully evacuated passengers from the overturned aircraft amid smoke and fire.
10:30 a.m.
Officials at the airport plan to provide further updates at noon.
9:47 a.m.
In a statement, Delta Airlines confirmed that 21 passengers were taken to the hospital following the crash, and 19 have since been discharged.
The airline’s CEO emphasized that the priority remains the well-being of customers and crew members involved. He also expressed gratitude to first responders and medical teams.
Delta flights have resumed at the airport.
9:10 a.m.
An aviation specialist stated that the aircraft’s flight data recorder would be crucial in determining what went wrong.
Video footage suggests that the right wing was lower than expected before impact, but it was within a normal range given the crosswinds at the time. Investigators are working to understand what happened in the final moments before landing.
7:30 a.m.
A video circulating online captures the moment the plane hit the runway, caught fire, and flipped over.
7 a.m.
A scheduled political event was delayed after the leader’s flight was canceled due to ongoing disruptions at Pearson.
6:30 a.m.
Flight delays and cancellations continue, with two runways shut down following the crash.
6 a.m.
Officials are expected to provide additional updates later in the day regarding the crash and its impact on airport operations.
