Why is the Toronto PLANE CRASH such a UNIQUE case compared to other incidents? Expert John Cox’s explanation
Rescue teams evacuated passengers after a Delta Air Lines flight crashed while landing at a major international airport. Videos captured the chaotic scene.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Delta Air Lines Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, took off from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. It crashed while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport around 2:45 p.m. local time on Monday, February 17. The aircraft, carrying 80 people, overturned upon impact.
A passenger climbs through an emergency exit while other individuals assist them down from the wrecked fuselage | Source: Instagram.com/eggxit
Footage from the scene captured the chaos. Passengers climbed through emergency exits as others helped them to safety. Inside, seats were displaced, and a flight attendant guided people through the wreckage.
Inside the plane, a flight attendant assists passengers as they navigate through overturned seats and scattered debris | Source: Instagram.com/eggxit
The plane’s fuselage was torn open, with debris scattered across the snow-covered ground. Smoke was seen bursting from the aircraft as people rushed to escape.
More passengers exit the damaged Delta plane onto the snow-covered ground as others assist in the evacuation | Source: Instagram.com/eggxit
Smoke bursts from the plane as more passengers climb out and move away across the snow-covered ground
The FAA said emergency crews responded quickly, evacuating all passengers and crew members.
In a statement shared on X, formerly Twitter, Delta confirmed the crash and reported that 18 passengers sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals. No fatalities have been reported.
The airline stated that its primary focus is assisting those affected and has activated a Passenger Inquiry Center for families seeking information. It provided contact numbers for inquiries in Canada and the United States.
“In Canada, these individuals may reach out via 1-866-629-4775. In the United States, they may connect using 1-800-997-5454,” the statement read.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed concern for those involved, “The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident at Toronto-Pearson International Airport.” He also thanked first responders and Delta staff assisting at the scene.
The flight was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members. Following the crash, Delta canceled all flights to and from Toronto Pearson for the remainder of the evening and issued a travel waiver for impacted passengers. The airline urged customers to check their flight status through the Fly Delta app.
Endeavor Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines based in Minneapolis, operated the aircraft. Delta has pledged to provide further updates as the investigation unfolds.
Newly released air traffic control audio, shared by CP24, captured the moments after the crash. In the recording, a controller asked, “Where’s the crash?” The response confirmed it came down on Runway 23R near Runway 15L.
A recording from a nearby medevac helicopter captured its crew communicating with air traffic control after the Delta Air Lines crash. A pilot reported seeing people around the aircraft. The audio also confirmed the plane was “upside down and burning.”
As investigators determine the cause, aviation expert John Cox emphasized how rare such incidents are. “It’s very rare to see something like this,” said Cox, CEO of aviation safety consulting firm Safety Operating Systems. He noted that while there have been a few cases of airplanes overturning during takeoff, such events remain uncommon.
Cox, a former U.S. Air pilot with 25 years of experience and a background in National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigations, emphasized the CRJ-900’s reliability. He noted that the aircraft has been in service for decades and is built to handle challenging weather conditions.
While acknowledging the windy conditions, the veteran pilot explained that the aircraft was “designed and certified” to operate safely in such environments. He added, “The pilots are trained and experienced to handle that.”
