A Delta Airlines plane crash at Toronto Pearson Airport resulted in significant disruptions on Monday, resulting in dozens of flight diversions, including two transatlantic flights that were forced to turn back in mid-air.
Toronto Pearson briefly closed both runways after a Bombardier CRJ900 plane overturned and lost both its wings in an accident. The crash injured 18 of 80 passengers, although no one was killed.
Flights Told to Turn Around Over the Atlantic
One of the flights hit by the snag was British Airways Flight 99, a Boeing 777 heading from London to Toronto. The flight had been airborne for three hours when it had to do a U-turn across the Atlantic Ocean. It landed at London Heathrow about midnight local time—six hours into the journey. The typical flying time from London to Toronto takes about eight hours.
Likewise, a TAP Air Portugal flight from Toronto to Lisbon was also disrupted. After traveling for approximately two hours over the Atlantic, it first tried to divert to the Azores but later headed back to Lisbon. The plane landed at its point of departure almost eight hours after it took off.
More than 40 Flights Rerouted to Neighboring Airports
44 flights were diverted as a result of the delta crash, according to Flightradar24. Of these, 11 were redirected to Montreal, nine to Ottawa, six to Hamilton, and three each to Chicago O’Hare and Pittsburgh.
Although such diversions are disruptive for travelers, they are also quite costly for airlines, resulting in disruptions to flight operations. Turning back across the ocean might seem odd, but it is usually the most logical thing to do. The ability to return to a hub airport enables airlines to quickly redirect and make accommodations for passengers and flight crews. Moreover, certain closer-in airports may not have the resources to accept unscheduled arrivals.
Both British Airways and TAP Air Portugal have remained silent on the incident. The airport authorities, however, still evaluate the effect of the crash and strive to resume normal operations.
