Delta Connection flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, was en route from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport. The Bombardier CRJ900 regional jet carried two flight crew members, two flight attendants, and 76 passengers.
On February 17, 2025, Toronto faced harsh winter conditions with winds at 30 miles per hour and gusts up to 39 miles per hour. The temperature stood at 16 degrees Fahrenheit (-8.6 C). Despite efforts to keep the runways clear of snow, the landing at 14:13 local time resulted in an accident.
Upon landing, the aircraft impacted the runway causing the right wing and tail fin to separate from the fuselage. A fire ensued as the aircraft flipped over and came to rest upside down facing in the opposite direction. Emergency services arrived within seconds and extinguished the fire.
Videos on social media captured flight attendants evacuating passengers from the aircraft in under 90 seconds using two doors for egress. Commands were shouted clearly: “Drop everything,” “Come on!” and “Put that phone away. “
Sara Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants- CWA, told CNN: “They performed their work perfectly as aviation’s first responders… to evacuate passengers from a crash landing like this safely they did that. “
Michael McCormick, associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University said to CNN: “They’re trained professionals… responsible for much more than picking up trash and serving sodas… they did a phenomenal job.”
Flight attendants undergo rigorous training in safety and emergency procedures which include firefighting, advanced first aid, survival techniques, security measures including restraint training for unruly passengers, dangerous goods handling as well as crew resource management (CRM).
“That’s why we go through training,” said Sara Nelson according to CNN. “Almost every single debrief…the flight attendants say ‘It was incredible. That training kicked in.'”
Deborah Flint CEO of Greater Toronto Airports Authority remarked: “Every time you board a flight… often it’s their job to make us comfortable… But we saw the most important role that they play in action yesterday.”
Passengers are advised always to follow instructions given by flight attendants during emergencies ensuring quick evacuation without baggage which could hinder progress or cause injury.
As of February 21st all injured passengers had been released from local hospitals while investigations led by Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) alongside representatives from Transport Canada United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continue.
Ed Bastian CEO Delta Air Lines commented: “Our Endeavor crew performed heroically but also as expected… We are a very competitive industry across US airlines but there’s one thing we do not compete on and that’s safety. “
