All 80 onboard likely survived thanks to firefighting crew: Toronto bound passenger plane rolled and landed upside down
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On February 17, 2025, Delta Air Lines Flight 4819, a Bombardier CRJ900 regional jet, crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport, resulting in the aircraft overturning upon impact. Despite the severity of the incident, all 80 individuals on board—76 passengers and four crew members—survived, with 21 people sustaining injuries, including three critically injured.
Firefighting Response
Upon rolling over on touchdown, the aircraft's fuselage ignited, prompting immediate firefighting efforts. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames, preventing further damage and potential escalation. Passenger accounts describe the interior as "upside down, hanging like bats," highlighting the severity of the crash.
The speed and efficiency of the airport firefighting crew appeared to have played a crucial role in saving the lives of the 80 people on board.
Firefighters were able to suppress the flames very quickly, preventing a potentially catastrophic fire from engulfing the entire aircraft.
The survival of everyone on board may have resulted from the durability of the plane's seats and the way the crash unfolded, said David McNair, a former Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigator.
"The rolling impact, although uncomfortable and unpleasant, is not as bad as having a direct impact somewhere," he said in an interview on CBC Radio's Metro Morning on Tuesday.
Deborah Flint, the president and CEO of Toronto Pearson International Airport, also credited the “textbook response” of first responders for helping prevent loss of life.
Evacuation and Injuries
Passengers evacuated the overturned aircraft with assistance from emergency responders. Eighteen individuals were transported to hospitals, with injuries ranging from minor to critical. Notably, a child and two adults were reported in critical condition.
Rapidly changing cross winds may have caused landing gear to snap
Various media articles state that there may have been conflicting instructions from the tower about strong cross winds during the landing.
Toronto Pearson Fire Chief Todd Aitken stated late on Monday that the runway was dry and there were no crosswind conditions. However, several pilots who had seen videos of the incident pushed back against this comment.
U.S. aviation safety expert and pilot John Cox explained that there was an average crosswind of 19 knots (22 mph) from the right as the plane was landing, but he clarified that this was an average, with gusts fluctuating up and down.
"It's gusty so they are constantly going to have to be making adjustments in the air speed, adjustments in the vertical profile and adjustments in the lateral profile," he noted, adding that "it's normal for what professional pilots do."
Cox also mentioned that investigators would try to determine the cause of the right wing separating from the aircraft.
A video released Tuesday shows the plane coming in for landing, apparently preparing for a cross wind landing, but the video is grainy and hard to read.
Aircraft design and strong seats may also have played a role in the survival
Michael J. McCormick, associate professor of air traffic management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, highlighted the unique nature of the crash, given the plane’s upside-down position.
"... the fact that 80 people survived an event like this is a testament to the engineering and the technology, the regulatory background that would go into creating a system where somebody can actually survive something that not too long ago would have been fatal," he said.
The seats were reportedly equipped with advanced safety features, including reinforced seat backs and strong, energy-absorbing materials, which may have helped to minimize the impact during the violent landing and subsequent overturning. These designs, combined with the aircraft's structure, which incorporated crash-resistant fuselage materials and reinforced wings, also may have helped protect passengers from further injuries.
Investigation and Airport Operations
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is leading the investigation into the crash, with support from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. The incident led to runway closures at Toronto Pearson International Airport, causing significant disruptions. Operations resumed later that day, with several flights diverted to other airports.
Photo Credit:
Wikipedia Commons License
Taken on 19 March 2017, 18:47
Source: Bombardier CRJ-900 ‘N814SK’ Delta Connection
Author: Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK
Check these sources for more information about the Delta Flight 4819 Crash-Landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport:
All 80 on board safe after Delta plane flips over on landing at Toronto
Terrifying new plane crash video released
Delta Plane Crashes While Landing in Toronto with 80 People on Board, Jet Overturned at Airport