Toronto Plane Crash: Delta Flight Ignites in a Fireball at Pearson Airport
A Delta flight en route from Minneapolis made an emergency landing at Toronto's Pearson Airport, leading to several injuries and a chaotic situation on the runway.
A Delta Connection flight from Minneapolis, operated by Endeavor Air, experienced a single-aircraft accident at Toronto Pearson International Airport around 2:15 PM Eastern Time on Monday, February 17, 2025. As reported by Delta Air Lines, the CRJ-900 jet burst into flames and flipped upside down while attempting a crash landing.
Emergency responders successfully evacuated all eighty individuals onboard, with initial reports indicating that twenty-one passengers sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals.
Subsequent updates from Delta revealed that nineteen of those hospitalized had been discharged.
Videos from the scene, including footage recorded by passengers, show the aircraft overturned on a snow-covered runway, with one clip capturing a passenger exiting the plane.
Local authorities reported that at least three individuals, including a child, suffered critical but non-life-threatening injuries, while other injured passengers received care at trauma centers and hospitals throughout the Toronto region.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has taken the lead in investigating the crash's cause, while the Federal Aviation Administration has provided air traffic control audio referring to the aircraft as "upside-down and burning" on the tarmac.
In response to the incident, Delta Air Lines activated its incident response team and dispatched specially trained Delta Care Team representatives to Pearson Airport to assist passengers and crew members.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian emphasized that the company's main focus was to support all customers and crew involved in the accident, while also recognizing the efforts of first responders and medical teams at the scene.
Public officials, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, also shared their reactions, offering support for those affected and demanding a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
This crash occurs in the context of several recent aviation accidents in North America, prompting relevant authorities to reassess air traffic control systems and aviation safety measures.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are still ongoing.