Crash Landing in Toronto
Toronto: A Delta Air Lines jet carrying 80 people crash-landed Monday at Toronto Pearson International Airport, flipping upside down and leaving at least 17 people injured, officials said. Fortunately, there were no fatalities.
The Endeavor Air flight 4819, with 76 passengers and four crew members, was arriving from Minneapolis, Minnesota, when the incident occurred in the afternoon.
Injuries and Emergency Response
According to paramedics, 17 people sustained injuries, including three critically: a child, a man in his 60s, and a woman in her 40s. However, Delta reported a total of 18 injured passengers.
All the wounded were transported to nearby hospitals via ambulance or helicopter, Lawrence Saindon of the paramedic services confirmed.
Cause of the Incident Unknown
Officials have not yet provided an explanation for the crash or how the aircraft ended up upside down with its wings clipped.
All 80 passengers and crew on board a Delta flight that crashed while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport have been evacuated, according to the FAA. https://t.co/kx6usZeLlN pic.twitter.com/yKnqjQUIAZ
— ABC News (@ABC) February 17, 2025
Dramatic footage shared on social media and local news broadcasts showed passengers stumbling away from the overturned CRJ-900 aircraft, shielding themselves from strong winds and blowing snow. Fire crews were seen spraying the plane with water as smoke rose from the fuselage, even as passengers continued evacuating.
No Other Aircraft Involved
Toronto airport authority CEO Deborah Flint confirmed that the incident did not involve any other planes.
Emergency crews responded within minutes, swiftly evacuating passengers. Some travelers have already reunited with their families, Flint added.
Airport Operations Disrupted
Following the crash, all flights were temporarily suspended but resumed around 5:00 PM local time—more than two hours later. Officials warned passengers to expect significant delays.
Eyewitness Account
Passenger John Nelson shared a video from the tarmac, showing the overturned aircraft. “Our plane crashed. It’s upside down,” he narrated. “Most people appear to be okay. We’re all getting off.”
Delta acknowledged the crash, stating that the Endeavor-operated connection flight was “involved in an incident.” CEO Ed Bastian expressed his concern, saying, “The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident at Toronto-Pearson International Airport.”
Harsh Weather Conditions
Toronto was still grappling with the effects of a massive snowstorm that hit eastern Canada on Sunday. Though snowfall had ceased, strong winds and freezing temperatures persisted. Airlines had been adding flights to compensate for weekend cancellations due to the storm.
Government Response and Investigation
Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand confirmed the aircraft carried 80 people and said she was closely monitoring the situation. Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed relief that there were no casualties.
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board has deployed investigators to the crash site, with support from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed an American team was also en route.
Other Recent Air Incidents
This crash follows other recent aviation accidents in North America, including a mid-air collision in Washington between a U.S. Army helicopter and a passenger jet, which claimed 67 lives, and a medical transport plane crash in Philadelphia that resulted in seven deaths.
Authorities continue investigating the cause of the Toronto crash as efforts focus on passenger recovery and resuming normal airport operations.
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