A Delta Air Lines regional jet, operated by its Endeavor Air subsidiary, flipped onto its roof upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, 17th February, injuring 18 of the 80 people aboard. The incident occurred amidst windy conditions following a weekend snowstorm that had dumped over 22cm (8.6 inches) of snow at the airport.
Flight DL4819, a CRJ900 from Minneapolis-St. Paul, carried 76 passengers and four crew members. Three passengers, including a child, suffered critical injuries, according to a Canadian air ambulance official. Fifteen people were immediately hospitalised, though Delta later reported some have since been released.
Video footage showed at least one wing detached from the 16-year-old, Bombardier-manufactured aircraft, powered by GE Aerospace engines. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, is investigating the cause of the accident. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.
Passenger John Nelson shared a video on Facebook showing the overturned plane being sprayed with water. He told CNN that the flight seemed normal until the landing. “We hit the ground, and we were sideways, and then we were upside down,” he recounted. He described how he escaped the aircraft, noting that some passengers needed assistance.
While Toronto Pearson Fire Chief Todd Aitken initially stated the runway was dry with no crosswind, several pilots disputed this after viewing videos of the incident. Aviation safety expert John Cox noted an average crosswind of 19 knots (22 mph) from the right at the time of landing, emphasising that gusts would have varied. He explained that pilots constantly make adjustments in such conditions and that investigators will focus on why the wing separated.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Michael J. McCormick highlighted the rarity of a plane landing upside down, but also the advancements in safety that allowed all 80 people to survive. He noted similarities to three previous incidents involving MD-11 aircraft.
Despite the incident, flights have resumed at Toronto Pearson, though delays are expected. Airport president Deborah Flint praised the first responders and expressed gratitude for the lack of fatalities. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which acquired the CRJ aircraft programme from Bombardier in 2020, stated they are aware of the incident and will cooperate fully with the investigation.
This crash follows several other recent aviation accidents in North America, including a helicopter collision with a CRJ-700 in Washington, D.C., a medical transport plane crash in Philadelphia, and a passenger plane crash in Alaska.
