TORONTO, Canada: On February 17, 2025, a Delta Air Lines jet crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport, creating a scene of chaos as the aircraft flipped upside down and caught fire upon touchdown. Fortunately, all 76 passengers and four crew members aboard survived the terrifying ordeal.
The incident, which is under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada, occurred just seconds after the plane's ground proximity warning system alerted the crew of a dangerously rapid descent. According to the preliminary report from the TSB, the warning sounded exactly 2.6 seconds before touchdown when the aircraft was traveling at 136 knots (approximately 155 mph).
“Accidents and incidents rarely stem from a single cause,” said Yoan Marier, chair of the TSB, in a video statement. “They’re often the result of multiple, complex interconnected factors, many extending beyond the aircraft and its operation to wider systemic issues.”
The report revealed that the plane was descending at a staggering rate of 1,100 feet per minute (fpm), nearly double the hard landing threshold of 600 fpm. Upon impact, the landing gear collapsed, leading to the right wing detaching from the fuselage, which released a cloud of jet fuel that quickly ignited.
As the aircraft skidded down the runway, it rolled to the right, ultimately flipping over and leaving passengers in a precarious position. Eyewitness accounts described a scene where passengers were “hanging upside down like bats,” with chaos ensuing as everyone attempted to escape.
Passengers began evacuating immediately after the plane came to a stop, but some suffered injuries when they unbuckled their seatbelts and fell onto the ceiling due to the aircraft's inverted position. In total, 21 individuals were hospitalized as a result of the incident. Fortunately, all of them were discharged from the hospital within days.
The cockpit door was jammed shut after the crash, requiring pilots to escape through an emergency hatch in the ceiling of the cockpit once they confirmed that all passengers had exited safely. This challenging escape further emphasized the urgency and danger of the situation.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene just moments after the aircraft came to a halt, but an explosion soon followed near the left wing, adding to the chaos. Investigators have yet to identify the cause of this explosion, which happened shortly after rescue teams initiated their efforts.
The preliminary findings indicate that there were no mechanical issues with the flight controls prior to the crash, though significant damage has made full assessments difficult so far. The ongoing investigation will focus on examining the aircraft's wing structure, pilot training, landing procedures, and the evacuation process to identify what went wrong during that fateful descent.
As investigations continue, legal actions are already underway. At least two lawsuits have been filed in the United States, and a Canadian law firm is actively working with several affected passengers. Delta Air Lines, in response to the preliminary findings, declined to comment directly on the ongoing investigation, stating, "We remain fully engaged as participants in the investigation led by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Out of respect for the integrity of this work, we will refrain from comment."
While the dramatic incident is still unfolding, the focus remains on understanding the contributing factors that led to this unusual and alarming landing. The TSB is committed to providing a thorough report which will ultimately help improve aviation safety protocols in the future, so similar incidents can be prevented.
