Air traffic control audio reacts to burning Delta plane on Toronto tarmac
A chilling audio recording from air traffic control at Toronto Pearson Airport captured the tense moment officials realized that Delta Connection flight 4819 had crashed and was burning on the tarmac. The flight, operated by Endeavor Air, involved a CRJ-900 jet and had 80 people on board, including 76 passengers and 4 crew members.
The crash occurred around 2:15 p.m. on Monday as the plane was landing at the Canadian airport. Thankfully, no one was killed in the incident, but at least 18 injuries were reported, with three individuals in critical condition.
The audio recording revealed the moment when an official realized the severity of the situation, saying, “This airplane just crashed.” The urgency of the situation was apparent as another voice mentioned that people were walking around the burning aircraft.
The flight had departed from Minneapolis-St. Paul airport earlier that day and crashed upon landing in Toronto. Operations at the airport were temporarily halted following the crash but resumed around 5 p.m.
Among the critically injured individuals, a four-year-old child was taken to The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, while two others were transported to trauma centers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and St. Michael’s Hospital.
Delta Airlines, the parent company of Endeavor Air, expressed its primary focus on taking care of those impacted by the incident. CEO Ed Bastian extended sympathy to those affected and commended the efforts of Delta and Endeavor team members, as well as first responders on site.
The emergency response to the crash highlighted the differences in Canadian emergency procedures compared to those in the United States. Canada’s airport firefighters are highly specialized in handling aircraft emergencies, and paramedics follow a structured triage system to prioritize and transport patients to trauma centers.
Authorities are actively investigating the incident to determine the cause of the crash. The response to the incident showcased the coordinated efforts of Canadian emergency responders in handling such crises.
As investigations continue, the aviation community is reminded of the importance of safety protocols and emergency preparedness to prevent such incidents in the future.
