A Delta Air Lines plane, which departed from Minneapolis to Pearson International Airport in Toronto,. The aircraft, a CRJ900, headed down on the track, but all 80 occupants survived, according to the airline. The accident occurred at 2:13 pm local time (4:13 pm GMT) and left 18 people injured, including a child, according to the Toronto Airport Fire Chief Todd Aitken.
The incident occurs at a time of great concern for aviation safety after several recent air accidents in North America. Understand, below, everything that is known so far about the case.
The Delta Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, the airline’s branch, faced an extremely difficult landing, resulting in the overturning of the aircraft. Passengers reported that the impact was strong and that, right after touching the ground, the plane spun and headed upside down.
Passenger Pete Koukov, in an interview with CNNdescribed the situation:
“I didn’t know there was a problem until the moment of impact. Suddenly we were sideways and then upside down, hanging like bats. ”
Local images showed the plane with the wheels up on the snow -covered track, with a wing completely separated from the fuselage.
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Injured and response from the authorities
Among the 18 injured, three were considered in critical condition, including a child who was referred to the For Sick Children hospital in Toronto.
Delta Air Lines president Ed Bastian expressed solidarity with the victims and thanked the rescuers for their rapid answer:
“The heart of Delta’s entire global family is those affected by the incident at Pearson Airport. I thank our employees and rescuers for the readiness in the service. ”
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Airport administration also highlighted the role of emergency teams to prevent a larger disaster.
What caused the accident?
Bad weather may have been a contributing factor. The landing occurred under winds of up to 64 km/h, but the conditions of the track were considered dry at the time of impact.
Aviation experts indicate that the plane faced strong cross gusts, which may have hindered landing. THE ReutersAir Safety expert John Cox said riders need to make constant adjustments in situations like this:
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“Cross winds varied, requiring continuous adjustments in velocity and vertical and lateral trajectory.”
Canada’s Transporation Safety Board (TSB) began investigations, supported by the US National Transportation (NTSB). Investigators of FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) were also sent to Toronto to assist in the case.
Although the flights have been resumed, Pearson Airport will maintain two closed clues in the coming days for the investigation. Passengers face delays and operational impacts while authorities analyze the causes of the accident.
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The Airport CEO, Deborah Flint, stressed that the work of rescue teams was critical to avoid fatalities:
“We are very grateful that there are no fatalities and only relatively light injuries.”
Another US accident
The accident in Toronto occurs amid a sequence of tragedies in US aviation. Earlier this month, an air collision in Washington killed 67 people. Then the crash of a medical plane in Philadelphia resulted in seven deaths; And the accident with an Alaska Airlines flight killed 10 passengers.
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(Com Reuters, CNN e The New York Times)
