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Delta regional jet crash-lands at Toronto Pearson; all aboard survive

Delta regional jet crash-lands at Toronto Pearson; all aboard survive
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Airline Ratings | Airline Ratings

On March 20, 2025, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada released a preliminary report on the crash-landing of a Delta Air Lines regional jet at Toronto Pearson International Airport in February. The incident involved Flight DL4819, a CRJ900 operated by Delta's Endeavor Air subsidiary, which flipped over after a hard landing. All 80 people on board survived, though nearly two dozen passengers were injured.

The TSB report highlights that the aircraft struck the runway with a descent rate 50% higher than what its landing gear was designed to absorb. The sink rate warning activated less than three seconds before touchdown, according to TSB investigator Ken Webster. U.S. aviation safety expert John Cox noted that the flight encountered a gust of wind during its approach, causing a sudden drop in airspeed when it dissipated just before landing. The pilots did not react by increasing power or adjusting pitch.

"It's a bad feeling as a pilot—you can feel the airplane start to come out from under you. It's miserable," Cox said. "And you have to take action in a hurry to get that sorted out. They did not."

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Cox also mentioned uncertainty about why the captain did not take corrective action against the excessive descent rate.

Weather conditions included gusting crosswinds and blowing snow but were within handling capabilities for professional crews, according to data from FlightRadar24 and Cox's assessment.

Delta declined to comment on these preliminary findings, which do not assign blame or determine root causes. A final report is expected within a year.

Investigator Webster confirmed that further insights would be provided in the final TSB report.

Video footage showed the aircraft flipping upon landing and missing its right wing. Some passengers struggled with seatbelt buckles while inverted, leading to additional injuries as they fell onto the cabin ceiling.

"Some injuries sustained by passengers occurred when they unbuckled their safety belts and fell to the ceiling," stated the report. "The TSB is not aware of any seatbelt or seat failures during the accident."

This event underscores adherence to safety protocols and decision-making during adverse weather conditions. The final report's findings will be crucial for determining potential safety improvements.

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