On February 17, 2025, Delta Connection Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport, flipping upside down upon impact. Amazingly, all 80 individuals on board—76 passengers and 4 crew members—survived the harrowing incident.
Flight Details and Incident
The Bombardier CRJ-900LR departed from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport en route to Toronto. At approximately 2:13 PM EST, during its landing on Runway 23, the aircraft experienced a hard touchdown. The main landing gear collapsed, causing the right wing to detach and ignite a fire. The plane then inverted and skidded to a halt, resting upside down slightly off the right side of the runway.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, Toronto was experiencing challenging weather. Strong westerly winds were recorded at speeds of 51 km/h (approximately 32 mph), with gusts up to 64 km/h (around 40 mph). Additionally, the temperature was approximately -8.6°C (16.5°F). These conditions likely contributed to the difficulties encountered during landing.
Emergency Response and Injuries
Emergency responders acted swiftly, evacuating all passengers and crew from the overturned aircraft. A total of 21 individuals sustained injuries, including back sprains, head lacerations, and nausea from inhaling aviation fuel fumes. Among the injured were a child and two adults, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 40s, who were critically injured. Three of the injured were transported to hospitals by air ambulance. According to Delta Air Lines, all 21 injured passengers were discharged from hospitals within four days, with the last release occurring on February 20.
Passenger Accounts
Passengers recounted the chaotic moments following the crash. Ashley Zook, one of the passengers, shared a video on social media from inside the overturned plane, stating, “I was just in a plane crash. Oh my God!” Another passenger, John Nelson, described the scene: “We’re in Toronto. We just landed. Our plane crashed, it’s upside down. The fire department is on site. It’s upside down. Most people appear … .”
Investigation and Airline Response
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the crash, with support from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been recovered for analysis. Delta Air Lines has expressed gratitude for the swift actions of the crew and emergency responders. The airline has offered $30,000 to each passenger as a goodwill gesture, stating that this compensation does not affect their legal rights.
Ongoing Investigation
As the investigation continues, authorities will examine various factors, including weather conditions, aircraft maintenance records, and pilot actions, to determine the cause of the crash. The aviation community awaits the findings to implement any necessary safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.