A Delta Air Lines jet with 80 on board, 76 passengers and four crew members, crash-landed at Toronto’s Pearson Airport on Monday afternoon. The plane, a Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR, rolled over onto its roof as it tried to land at about 2:15 PM. Everyone on board survived, although 18 people were hospitalized with minor injuries, airport officials said.
Severe Weather Conditions Contribute to Delta Plane Crash
The plane, which had flown in from Minneapolis, was under severe weather as it landed at Toronto. Sustained heavy snow and up to 40 mph (65 kph) gusts presented a difficult environment for landing. Despite normal contact with air traffic control by the pilot, the plane lost equilibrium when it touched down, departing from its line of flight before it overturned.
A viral video being shared on social media shows the harrowing moment of impact as the plane spins when it ran on the runway.
? A newly released video shows the exact moment of the impact of Delta Connection flight 4819 at YYZ
by airmainengineer#deltaairlines #avgeek #accident pic.twitter.com/2BqnqPyxVn
— Airways Magazine (@airwaysmagazine) February 18, 2025
Travelers Describe Frightening Moments
Some passengers recounted their terrifying experiences. Peter Carlson, a passenger bound for Toronto for a paramedics convention, called the landing “very forceful.” He described, “All of a sudden, everything just kind of went sideways, and then next thing I know, it’s kind of a blink and I’m upside down, still strapped in.”
In spite of the mayhem, Carlson and fellow passengers were swift to assist other travelers, such as a mother and her small child, in escaping the crashed plane. Passengers walked through the snow-covered tarmac to safety.
New video of the Delta airline plane crash yesterday.
How did everyone survive? pic.twitter.com/s0w48tfIik— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) February 18, 2025
Greater Toronto Airports Authority CEO Deborah Flint was relieved that no one had been killed. “We are very thankful there was no loss of life,” she said in a statement to the press, noting that authorities would conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the Delta plane crash.
Increasing Concerns Regarding Aviation Safety
This crash is the latest in a string of aviation accidents in North America. In recent weeks, a fatal helicopter crash in Washington D.C., a plane crash in Philadelphia, and an Alaskan air disaster have raised concerns over aviation safety.
The previous big accident at Pearson Airport also happened in 2005 when an Air France Airbus A340 veered off the runway and erupted in flames. Again, no one was killed in the accident either.
Monday’s crash has been investigated by the authorities, which is considering weather, response from pilots, and aircraft performance. Passengers and airline executives are meanwhile counting their lucky stars after what might have otherwise turned into a much worse disaster.