Delta Airlines crash at Toronto’s Pearson International airport leaves plane upside down & 15 injured, passengers escaping on icy tarmac as Endeavor Air carrying 80, thought to be caught in rapid winds following snow storm leading to rough landing. Pilot error explored.
And yet again. A Delta Airlines plane crash-landed at Toronto‘s Pearson international airport on Monday, leaving the aircraft upside down as passengers were seen scampering along the icy tarmac in a bid to escape the latest aviation mishap in North America in recent weeks.
At least fifteen people were injured in the landing, carrying 76 passengers and four crew members CTV News reported.
Two adults and a child sustained critical injuries, while 12 more patients were taken to local hospitals with less serious injuries, following Delta Flight 4819 crash landing according to Canadian authorities.
Former Airline Captain Mike Coffield on the Endeavor Air (Delta) CRJ-700 plane crash at Toronto Airport: “It’s remarkable to me that the airplane is upside down like this…but for the airplane to not have immediately caught fire and mass casualties, it’s truly a miracle.
What… pic.twitter.com/pCLpZjmsyT
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) February 17, 2025
BREAKING: Another US flight has crashed under President Trump!
Delta CRJ-900 Operated by Endeavor Air Crashes at Toronto Pearson Airport
A Delta Airlines CRJ-900 jet, operated by Endeavor Air, has crashed and overturned upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport with numerous… pic.twitter.com/xvW4uJsbrE
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) February 17, 2025
Delta Airlines crash landing amid strong winds
The plane, a Bombardier CR900, which departed from Minneapolis Monday morning at 11.47 am bound for Toronto was operated by a regional airline, Endeavor Air. It was carrying 76 passengers when it crash landed and tipped upside down shortly before 3pm.
The crash occurred with winds gusting up to 40 MPH on the ground with wind speeds even stronger in the air.
‘Toronto Pearson is aware of an incident upon landing involving a Delta Airlines plane arriving from Minneapolis. Emergency teams are responding,’ the airport said in a statement on X.
All operations at the Toronto airport have been shut down after the crash landing.
Shared images at the scene showed the plane upside down on the ice-covered runway.
Passengers were seen exiting the aircraft and stepping onto the icy runway following the Endeavor Air plane crash in Toronto.
Emergency crews surrounded the plane after the crash landing and sprayed it with foam, preventing a potential deadly fire.
Se reportan tres sobrevivientes del accidente aéreo en #Toronto que están en condición crítica, incluyendo un niño.
En el avión de Delta Airlines viajaban 76 personas, con al menos 18 heridos confirmados. pic.twitter.com/abtDDm3lxu
— La Crónica de Hoy (@LaCronicaDeHoy) February 17, 2025
Delta Flight 4819 possible pilot error negotiating strong winds
It’s unclear what led to the plane crash landing. Preliminary reports pointed to rapid winds in the Toronto region on Monday afternoon with speculation that the jet may have been flipped by strong crosswinds.
The crash followed a weekend winter storm in the area which dumped nearly nine inches of snow on the airport, forcing crews to work overnight Sunday to clear key runways.
Commented former Airline Captain Mike Coffield on the Endeavor Air (Delta) CRJ-700 plane crash at Toronto Airport: ‘It’s remarkable to me that the airplane is upside down like this…but for the airplane to not have immediately caught fire and mass casualties, it’s truly a miracle.’
The pilot further commented that the pilot may have come in at a too low a speed while negotiating cross winds and possibly leading to the plane tipping over upon touching ground.
John Nelson, who was aboard the plane, posted footage of the moment he stepped off the aircraft on Facebook,
‘We just landed. Our plane crashed – it’s upside down,’ an out-of-breath Nelson said.
‘Most people are going to be okay,’ the shocked passenger said.
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board is tasked in investigating the crash as it happened in Canadian territory, CNN reported. Pilot error to date has not been indicated.
The Association of Flight Attendants also issued a statement following the crash-landing.
‘Our union is responding to an incident in Toronto with Delta Air Lines Endeavor Flight 4819. AFA crew were working this flight,’ the statement read.
‘Reports are there are no fatalities. Please do not speculate on this incident as everyone works to gather information and support those involved.’
Strong winds have been impacting Toronto all day. Winds are currently sustained at 32 mph with gusts of 40 mph at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.
Blowing snow has been reported over the past several hours as well. This is not new snow, but snow already on the ground from the weekend being blown by the strong winds.
Despite the blowing snow, visibility at the airport is still 5 miles, CNN reported.
The Endeavor Air plane crash is the first major incident involving a commercial passenger jet since the Jan. 29 crash of an Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines flight 5342 at Ronald Reagan National Airport, in which 64 American Airline passengers and three crew along with 3 military helicopter crew were killed. Military helicopter pilot and air traffic control error have been eyed in that tragedy.
