Delta 4819 Crashes While Landing in Toronto

February 17, 2025
Pending
Delta Flight 4819 is seen upside down near the runway after crashing while landing in Toronto.
Incident Details
Highest Injury: Serious
Number of Injuries: 3
City: Toronto
State: Not Applicable
Aircraft Details
Aircraft Make: Bombardier
Aircraft Model: CRJ-900
Pilot Name/Operator: Endeavor Air
Registration #: N932XJ
Departure Airport: KMSP
Destination Airport: CYYZ
Additional Resources
Incident Briefing

A dramatic landing accident at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) left a Delta Connection Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jet severely damaged but fortunately did not result in any fatalities. Delta Air Lines Flight 4819, which was being being operated by Endeavor Air, was attempting to land on Runway 23 when disaster struck, leaving passengers and crew shaken and emergency services scrambling into action.

The Incident: A Close Call

On touchdown, the aircraft’s right main landing gear collapsed, causing the right wing to scrape against the runway. Within seconds, a fire erupted as the aircraft’s wing dragged along the pavement for approximately three seconds before the plane flipped over, coming to a rest in an inverted position. Emergency services responded swiftly, containing most of the post-crash fire before it could spread further.

Miraculously, all 76 passengers and four crew members survived, though 18 individuals sustained injuries, including three with serious conditions.

Aftermath and Wreckage

Images from the scene paint a stark picture: the CRJ-900’s right wing had separated completely, while the aircraft remained belly-up on the runway. The main landing gear and tail control surfaces were also torn apart due to the impact. However, the left wing and nose gear remained attached to the airframe, providing some structural integrity amid the destruction.

Weather Conditions at the Time

Weather could have played a role in the challenges faced during the landing. Just 12 minutes before the accident, Toronto Pearson’s automated surface observing system recorded winds from 270° at 28 knots, gusting up to 35 knots. Visibility was reduced to six miles due to blowing snow, with cloud cover at 3,400 feet above ground level. The temperature stood at -9°C with a dew point of -14°C.

Twenty minutes after the accident, winds were still strong at 20 knots, gusting up to 32 knots, with similar visibility and cloud cover.

What’s Next?

Investigations are underway to determine the precise factors that led to the gear collapse and subsequent accident. While weather conditions were certainly demanding, further analysis will reveal if mechanical issues or other factors played a role in the incident.

For now, this serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and risks involved in aviation.

Additional Resources
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4 Comments

  1. Allan Freeman

    It looks like in the video from the other plane, that they flew through a few low clouds, maybe temporarily losing sight of the runway.

    1. Mike

      No, this plane hit the runway a bit too hard, I have a feeling it was a strong headwind or flap failure which stalled the plane just before contact.

  2. Basil Foster

    Good article. However, Toronto is in Ontario, Canada, not Alaska.

  3. SNM

    Confusing, because i live in Ontario, OR, having moved from Ontario, CA.
    THE IMAGE OF THAT ‘BLUE SIDE DOWN’ AIRCRAFT IS A TRIP. K, crzp, didnt mean to yell. Sry
    :}

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