TORONTO (CANADA): A Delta Air Lines plane carrying 80 people flipped over while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport, leaving at least 18 people injured. The flight, which had taken off from Minneapolis, ended up upside down on the runway. One passenger described the terrifying moment, saying they were left "hanging like bats" inside the aircraft.

Eighteen people were injured when the Delta Air Lines plane crashed while landing at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. Some passengers, who were wearing seat belts, were left hanging from their seats after the impact.

Toronto Pearson Airport Fire Chief Todd Aitken said at a press conference on Monday that all 18 injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Earlier in the day, airport CEO Deborah Flint had reported 17 injuries after the crash.

Crash Could Have Been Worse - Aviation expert John Soucie compared this crash to a 1987 accident in Denver, where a DC-9 flipped and killed 28 people. He explained that better safety features and stronger seats likely helped save lives in Toronto. He also pointed out that the plane’s wings detached as designed, which may have reduced the impact.

Harsh Weather Conditions - The crash happened on Monday afternoon as strong winds and snow swept through Toronto. The plane had been cleared to land, but with gusts reaching 38 mph, it struggled during descent. Within minutes, it hit the runway, overturned, and burst into flames.

Emergency crews rushed to put out the fire. Videos showed the plane’s body badly damaged, with melted fiberglass near the engine. Passenger Peter Koukov said he and others were left hanging upside down. Some unbuckled and stood on the ceiling, while flight attendants helped others out through emergency exits.

Airport Disruptions - Toronto Airport was closed for over two hours before flights started taking off and landing again. Because of this, many flights were delayed on the ground, and some planes had to be sent to other airports, including Montreal-Trudeau International Airport. Officials there said they were getting ready to handle the extra flights, which could lead to even more delays.

The crash forced Toronto Pearson to close all five runways temporarily, delaying flights and redirecting some to other airports. Investigators will now underway, and the two runways where the crash happened will remain shut for several days.