Canadian aviation authorities announced on Tuesday (Feb 18) that they have sent the flight data recorders from a Delta Air Lines regional jet for lab analysis. The aircraft, operated by Delta’s Endeavour Air subsidiary, flipped upside down upon landing in Toronto a day earlier, injuring 21 people. Investigators are now working to determine the cause of the crash.

Ken Webster, Senior Investigator at the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, stated in a video briefing that the CRJ900 aircraft broke apart upon impact at Toronto Pearson Airport, sparking a fire. A team of over 20 Canadian investigators is leading the probe, with support from the US National Transportation Safety Board, Transport Canada, and the US Federal Aviation Administration.

At this stage, officials say it is too early to pinpoint the exact cause of the crash. The flight, identified as Delta Flight 4819 from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, carried 80 people, including crew members. Aviation experts note that crashes are often the result of multiple factors.

Weather Conditions and Landing Analysis: Flight tracking platform FlightRadar24 reported that weather conditions at the time included strong crosswinds and blowing snow. A widely circulated video of the landing suggests that the aircraft touched down flat, lacking the standard flare maneuver where pilots raise the nose to reduce landing impact.

US aviation expert John Cox observed that the landing appeared "unusually firm" but emphasized that investigators are still collecting data before drawing conclusions. The CRJ900, a 16-year-old aircraft manufactured by Bombardier and powered by GE Aerospace engines, can seat up to 90 passengers. Post-accident footage revealed that at least one of the aircraft's wings had detached.

No Fatalities, Passengers Share Experiences: Despite the severity of the crash, no fatalities were reported. Delta stated that 19 of the 21 injured passengers who were taken to local hospitals have since been discharged. Two remain hospitalized, but their injuries are not life-threatening. Greater Toronto Airports CEO Deborah Flint praised the swift response of the flight crew and emergency teams. "Looking at the wreckage, you realize how fortunate we are that everyone survived," she said.

Passenger Peter Koukov, a professional skier and videographer from Denver, recounted his experience. Initially unaware of any issue, he recalled the aircraft bouncing upon landing before flipping over. "It felt like we were lifting off again, then suddenly we turned on our side, slid for a bit, and ended up upside down," he described.

Seated next to a female passenger he hadn’t spoken to throughout the flight, Koukov recalled how they instinctively hugged for about 10 seconds after escaping. "Then we just looked at each other and said, ‘Okay, what’s next? We need to get off this plane.’" The crash occurred at 2:13 PM local time on Monday after an 86-minute flight. The aircraft came to a stop near the intersection of runways 23 and 15 at Toronto Pearson Airport. Authorities expect the wreckage to remain on-site for at least 48 hours, and two runways will remain closed until it is removed.

The incident has added to ongoing disruptions at Toronto Pearson, which was already dealing with delays and cancellations due to a recent snowstorm that left more than 22 cm of snow. Air Canada, the country’s largest airline, has struggled to restore normal operations after canceling approximately 1,290 flights over the past six days. Air Canada Chief Operating Officer Craig Landry stated that it may take several more days for operations to fully return to normal, depending on weather conditions. Nearly half of Air Canada's flights and passengers pass through Toronto Pearson daily, making the recovery effort a significant challenge.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters