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//Delta Jet Overturns on Snowy Toronto Runway, All 80 Passengers Survive//

Toronto, Canada (AP) – A Delta Air Lines jet flipped onto its roof while attempting to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday afternoon. Despite the dramatic accident, all 80 people aboard survived, with only minor injuries reported.

The flight, which originated from Minneapolis, was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members when it attempted to touch down amid strong winds and blowing snow around 2:15 p.m. The airport's CEO, Deborah Flint, confirmed that while the crash was serious, the outcome could have been far worse.

A Terrifying Landing

Peter Carlson, a passenger on the flight, described the landing as "very forceful." He recalled the terrifying moment when the aircraft suddenly flipped upside down.

“All of a sudden, everything just kind of went sideways, and next thing I know, I’m upside down, still strapped in,” Carlson told CBC News.

Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the accident, but video footage shared on social media showed the overturned Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR with firefighters on the scene, extinguishing flames and helping passengers evacuate.

Quick Emergency Response

Emergency crews responded within minutes. Fire Chief Todd Aitken stated that the situation was managed "as planned," and first responders ensured all passengers were safely removed from the wreckage. Eighteen people were taken to the hospital, including one pediatric patient transported to Toronto’s SickKids hospital.

“We are very grateful there was no loss of life and only relatively minor injuries,” said Flint.

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian also issued a statement, expressing support for those affected. “The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those involved in this accident.”

Weather Conditions and Potential Causes

At the time of the crash, Toronto Pearson Airport was experiencing heavy snowfall and strong winds, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph (65 kph). However, Aitken noted that the runway was dry and there were no reported crosswinds, making the cause of the accident unclear.

Aviation safety expert John Cox suggested that weather may not have been the primary factor, raising questions about the aircraft’s right wing, which appeared to be missing in post-crash images.

“If one wing is missing, the aircraft will have a tendency to roll over,” Cox explained. “That will be a central question in the investigation.”

Investigations Underway

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is leading the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Flight data and cockpit voice recorders will be analyzed to determine what went wrong.

The incident adds to a troubling series of aviation accidents in North America over the past three weeks. These include a midair collision between a commercial airliner and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., that claimed 67 lives, as well as deadly crashes in Philadelphia and Alaska.

A Rare Type of Accident

Aircraft flipping onto their roofs is an unusual occurrence, particularly for a CRJ-900, a model that has been in service for years.

“We’ve seen a couple of cases where takeoffs resulted in an overturned aircraft, but this is quite rare,” said Cox.

While the airline industry maintains a strong safety record, this accident is a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of aviation. For those on board Flight 2174, however, the outcome was nothing short of miraculous.