A Delta Airlines flight from Minneapolis to Toronto met a terrifying fate on February 17, 2025, when it crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport, flipped upside down, and caught fire upon impact. What could have been a deadly aviation disaster miraculously ended with all 80 passengers and crew surviving.
With aviation experts, investigators, and the public questioning what went wrong and how everyone made it out alive, let’s break down the crash, survival factors, and the ongoing investigation.
The Moments Leading to the Crash
At approximately 6:45 PM local time, Delta Air Lines Flight 1852, a Bombardier CRJ900, was on its final approach to Runway 24R at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The plane was operating in wintery conditions with heavy crosswinds. Witnesses recall seeing the aircraft struggling as it approached the runway.
Sequence of Events: How the Crash Unfolded
Rough Landing: As the plane touched down, it bounced multiple times on the tarmac, indicating an unstable approach.
Landing Gear Failure: The right landing gear collapsed, sending the aircraft tilting sideways.
Loss of Control: Unable to stay upright, the plane skidded off course and flipped over, coming to a stop upside down.
Fire Breaks Out: Moments after impact, a fire erupted, adding urgency to the evacuation process.
Passengers described a violent, jarring impact followed by a moment of eerie silence before the aircraft cabin filled with smoke and emergency lights flickered on.
How Did Everyone Survive?
Aviation analysts and first responders credit three critical survival factors:
Rapid Emergency Response
- Fire crews arrived within two minutes, a response time crucial in preventing the spread of flames.
- Rescue teams acted quickly, deploying specialized foam to suppress fire near the fuselage.
- First responders coordinated evacuation efforts, ensuring passengers were moved away from the wreckage immediately.
Timing was everything. If emergency teams had taken even a few minutes longer, the fire could have engulfed the plane before passengers had a chance to escape.
The Crew’s Training and Leadership
- Cabin crew remained composed, issuing clear evacuation instructions despite being in a terrifying, upside-down position.
- Emergency exits were manually forced open, as automatic slide deployment was affected by the aircraft's inversion.
- Passengers were guided out in an orderly manner, reducing panic and the risk of stampedes.
“We were hanging upside down, but the crew remained calm and got us out quickly,” said one survivor.
The efficiency and professionalism of the flight crew significantly reduced casualties and ensured all passengers exited safely.
The Aircraft’s Structural Integrity
- The Bombardier CRJ900 is built for crash resilience, which played a major role in absorbing impact forces.
- The aircraft’s fuselage remained intact, preventing mass injuries from structural collapse.
- Fuel tanks did not rupture, reducing the risk of an immediate explosion.
Experts say that if the aircraft had broken apart, survival chances would have been much lower.
Investigation: What Caused the Crash?
Authorities from Transport Canada, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and Delta Airlines have launched an in-depth investigation into the cause of the crash.
Key Theories Under Investigation:
Severe Wind Conditions – High-speed winds and possible wind shear may have destabilized the landing.
Mechanical Failure – The right landing gear collapse suggests possible structural defects or hydraulic issues.
Pilot Error – Investigators are reviewing whether the descent angle or approach speed was miscalculated.
Flight data recorders, commonly known as “black boxes”, have been recovered and are being analyzed.
Aviation analysts warn that final results could take months, as experts review weather conditions, maintenance records, and pilot actions leading up to the crash.