On February 17, 2025, Delta Connection Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The Bombardier CRJ-900LR, arriving from Minneapolis-Saint Paul, flipped upside down upon landing, leading to panic and an immediate emergency response. Despite the dramatic crash, all 76 passengers and four crew members survived, though 19 people sustained injuries, including three in critical condition.
Air Traffic Control Audio Captures the Chaos
Newly released air traffic control (ATC) audio reveals the immediate aftermath. In the recordings, a controller urgently reports, “This airplane just crashed,” followed by another confirming, “The aircraft is upside down and burning.” The exchanges highlight the severity of the situation as emergency crews rushed to the scene.
Possible Causes and Weather Conditions
At the time of the crash, Toronto was experiencing strong winds (51 km/h, gusting to 64 km/h) and temperatures of -8.6°C. Investigators are considering wind shear, approach speeds, and possible braking issues as contributing factors. While some reports described a dry runway, the intense winds and icy conditions may have played a role in the accident.
Passenger Accounts and Investigation
Survivors described chaos inside the cabin, with disorientation due to the aircraft flipping. “It was mass panic… we could smell the jet fuel,” one passenger recalled. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation, analyzing flight data and environmental conditions.
While the full cause remains unknown, the incident underscores the importance of landing procedures in challenging weather conditions.
