Patten further explained: “It is my understanding that most of the passengers are out and unharmed but we’re still trying to make sure, so we’re still on scene investigating.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that all 80 people aboard Delta Air Lines Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, were accounted for and evacuated safely.

In a statement, the FAA provided additional details, stating: “Delta Air Lines Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, crashed while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada around 2:45 p.m. local time on Monday, February 17.”

They also mentioned that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada will be leading the investigation and will provide any updates moving forward.

Tweets Shared Hours Before Crash

In the aftermath of the crash, there’s growing speculation about whether severe weather played a role in the incident.

On Sunday (February 16), Toronto Pearson officials tweeted: “The snow is still falling at the airport.

“Since it began yesterday, we’ve already accumulated 12.2 cm of snow by 8 a.m. The forecast suggests we could see another 15 cm today.

“In total, we’ve received 53.6 cm of snow this week, which is more than the combined total of 47.6 cm in November, December, and January!

“Our teams are working tirelessly to clear the runways by plowing, sweeping, and blowing the snow away.”

Hours before the crash on Monday, a second tweet read: “Here’s a look at part of our airfield this morning as the cleanup continues from this weekend’s storm.

“Our crews worked all weekend to keep the roughly 5 million square metres of airfield clear of snow to ensure planes can arrive and depart safely.”

Delays Mount at Toronto Pearson

Delays are piling up at Toronto Pearson after the recent crash, with more than forty flights facing delays, as reported on the airport’s website.

The FAA has also placed a temporary ground stop at the airport while officials assess the situation.

Canada’s Transportation Safety Board, which handles plane crash investigations, has not yet responded to requests for comment.

This incident follows closely behind a series of tragic plane crashes in the US within the past few weeks, including one in Washington D.C. that claimed 67 lives, another in Alaska that resulted in 10 fatalities, and a third in Philadelphia that killed seven people.