Delta Toronto Runway Accident: CRJ-900 Inverts at Pearson, 18 Injured

A Delta Air Lines regional jet crashed and inverted on landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport (CYYZ) on Feb. 17, 2025, injuring 18 people but causing no fatalities. Delta Connection Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, was arriving from Minneapolis–Saint Paul with 76 passengers and four crew members when it experienced a hard landing on Runway 23. The impact caused landing gear failure, and the Bombardier CRJ-900 came to rest inverted on the snow-covered tarmac.

Preliminary findings from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) indicate the aircraft touched down at a vertical descent rate of 1,100 feet per minute — well above the gear's design limit of 720 ft/min — causing a right main landing gear component to fracture. The collapse triggered a fuel spill and a post-crash fire. The flight deck received a "sink rate" warning 2.6 seconds before impact. The TSB, FAA, and NTSB are jointly investigating, with analysis focusing on approach stability, winter runway conditions, and crew decision-making.

The incident has renewed scrutiny of stabilized approach criteria and landing gear design margins across the regional jet fleet. Toronto Pearson implemented a ground stop immediately following the accident, and Runway 23 remained closed during the initial investigation. Delta Air Lines offered $30,000 to each passenger as an advance payment with no conditions attached, though some passengers have since pursued legal action.