Source: GEOFF ROBINS / Getty
On Monday, February 17, 2025, a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis to Toronto crashed upon landing at Pearson International Airport, flipping onto its roof after a forceful and chaotic landing. The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ-900LR, was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members. Miraculously, all 80 people on board survived, and despite the severity of the crash, the injuries sustained by passengers were relatively minor, with no fatalities reported.
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The crash occurred around 2:15 p.m., as snow swirled across the runway and winds gusted up to 40 mph (65 kph). Though communication between the pilot and air traffic control had been normal, the plane landed forcefully, and things quickly went awry. Passenger Peter Carlson, en route to Toronto for a paramedics conference, described the moment as “very forceful,” saying, “All of a sudden everything just kind of went sideways, and then next thing I know, I’m upside down, still strapped in.” Other passengers, including Peter Koukov, recalled a violent impact followed by a period of sliding on the runway. Koukov and his seatmate quickly freed themselves from their seatbelts and moved to the floor, which was now the ceiling.
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Inside the plane, chaos ensued as passengers scrambled to escape. Some were able to help others as flight attendants worked to guide everyone out. Video footage shared by passengers, including Ashley Zook and John Nelson, showed the wreckage and the heroic efforts of emergency responders. Zook posted a video of herself still strapped in her seat, dangling upside down after the crash. Nelson filmed emergency crews dousing the fire that had ignited while passengers climbed out of the wreckage and walked across the tarmac. Toronto Pearson Fire Chief Todd Aitken praised the swift response, noting that emergency personnel reached the scene within minutes. “The runway was dry, and there was no cross-wind,” Aitken confirmed.
By Tuesday, 21 people had been hospitalized, though all injuries were described as minor, with 19 passengers already released from care. One pediatric patient was transported to SickKids Hospital, while the remaining injured adults were treated at local hospitals. Delta’s regional affiliate, Endeavor Air, operated the flight, and Canadian authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. The incident comes amid a series of recent aviation accidents in North America, including a deadly collision between a commercial jet and a military helicopter in Washington, D.C., and a medical plane crash in Philadelphia.
Despite the traumatic nature of the crash, the fact that all passengers survived is being hailed as a miracle, with Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressing relief that there were no fatalities. “The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected,” he said in a statement.
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