Toronto Pearson Faces Days of Flight Disruptions Following Fiery Plane Crash, Crew Praised for Heroic Rescue

Toronto Pearson International Airport is bracing for significant flight disruptions in the coming days as authorities investigate a harrowing plane crash that left more than 20 passengers injured on Monday afternoon. With two of the airport’s five runways shut down, travelers are being urged to prepare for delays and cancellations that could extend for several days.

A team of 20 investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), joined by officials from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), have arrived at the scene to examine the wreckage. The investigation is expected to take at least 48 hours, according to Deborah Flint, CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA).

“We are looking to support that investigation and removal of that aircraft off the runway, at which point we can do our inspections and return that runway into service,” Flint stated during a press briefing on Tuesday.

However, she refrained from speculating on the cause of the crash, emphasizing that further details would be released by the TSB.

Peel paramedics reported that passengers suffered a range of injuries, including back sprains, head trauma, and nausea, with some experiencing symptoms due to fuel exposure. While 21 people were initially hospitalized, 19 have since been discharged, Delta Airlines confirmed.

The aftermath of the crash triggered widespread disruptions at Pearson, compounding an already strained flight schedule following two consecutive snowstorms. On Monday alone, 462 out of 1,006 scheduled flights were cancelled. Flint noted that operations resumed at 5 p.m. that evening, but with two crucial runways still out of service, recovery efforts remain slow.

“We are currently without use of our longest east-west and north-south runways. This, along with expected adverse weather conditions, will impact how quickly we can restore normal operations,” she explained.

Passengers have been advised to check their flight status frequently and anticipate ongoing delays and cancellations.

Despite the chaos, Flint commended the Delta Airlines crew for their swift and professional handling of the emergency, which she described as a “textbook” response.

“The crew on Delta flight 4819 heroically led passengers to safety, evacuating a jet that had overturned on the runway on landing amid smoke and fire. I thank each and every one of these heroes,” she said.