Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada indicate it remains too early to determine the causes of the Delta Air Lines plane crash at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, as the one-year mark of the February 17, 2025, incident nears.
Incident Overview
Flight 4819, operated by Delta’s subsidiary Endeavor Air from Minneapolis, carried 76 passengers and four crew members. All survived when the aircraft flipped over, skidded along the runway, and burst into flames upon landing. The crash injured 21 people, who required hospital treatment for various conditions.
Preliminary Findings
A prior report noted the plane descended at a high rate of about 1,100 feet per minute—faster than typical. A wind gust accelerated the aircraft during approach, prompting the co-pilot to reduce power and slow it down. Upon touchdown, the landing gear collapsed into the retracted position, the wing separated from the fuselage, and spilled jet fuel ignited as the plane slid.
Ongoing Investigation Details
The safety board’s latest update highlights a thorough metallurgical review of the landing gear and wing, alongside examinations of flight data and cockpit voice recorders. Teams have also reviewed data from air traffic services, airport surveillance cameras, and weather conditions at the time.
“The investigation remains ongoing, therefore it is too early to draw conclusions as to the causes and contributing factors of the accident,” the board stated in its release.
Simulator recreations have occurred, with analysis continuing. Upcoming efforts will finalize technical, operational, and lab results before drafting the final report.
Evacuation and Aftermath
Once stopped, crew and passengers evacuated quickly. Some sustained injuries after unbuckling and falling toward the ceiling amid the inversion. Pilots exited last via the cockpit’s overhead emergency hatch after the door jammed.
Several passengers have pursued lawsuits against Delta Air Lines in U.S. courts. Shortly after the event, the airline provided $30,000 in compensation to those aboard, with no conditions attached, and pledged full cooperation with investigators.
