Toronto Plane Crash Timeline – On February 17, 2025, a Delta Air Lines flight operated by Endeavor Air, a regional carrier for Delta, encountered a catastrophic incident during its attempt to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). The flight, a CRJ700 regional jet, had departed from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), en route to Toronto, when it was involved in a crash near the runway. The aircraft, identified as a Mitsubishi CRJ900, was registered as N932XJ and had been in service with Delta Connection since 2013. At 15.6 years old, the plane was a relatively seasoned model in the Delta fleet.
The incident occurred as the aircraft was attempting to land at Toronto Pearson on runway 23. According to early reports, the aircraft experienced a failure in its flap actuator system. This malfunction prevented the flaps from deploying correctly, which led to difficulties in the plane’s ability to reduce speed and maintain proper stability during the landing approach. The malfunction resulted in a hard landing, causing the aircraft to flip upside down shortly after it touched the runway.
Initial accounts indicate that the plane was attempting to perform a standard landing when the failure occurred, leading to a severe disruption of the aircraft’s normal descent path. Flight crews reportedly struggled to maintain control of the aircraft, which caused the plane to veer off its landing trajectory and overturn. While the full details surrounding the exact timing of the failure are still under investigation, it appears the actuator failure was central to the crash dynamics.
As of now, authorities have not provided concrete information regarding the number of injuries or casualties. The lack of immediate confirmation has left the public and concerned families anxiously awaiting more details. Emergency teams quickly responded to the crash, with airport personnel, paramedics, and fire crews rushing to the scene to secure the aircraft and provide assistance to any passengers and crew members who may have been injured.
The aircraft involved in this incident, the CRJ900, is powered by two General Electric CF34-8C5 engines, which are designed to provide efficient propulsion for regional jets. Despite the mechanical failure leading to the crash, early reports suggest that the engines themselves did not contribute to the loss of control or any fire-related complications.
In the aftermath of the crash, aviation safety authorities, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Canadian investigators, have launched a full-scale investigation. Their primary focus is on understanding the causes behind the flap actuator failure, a critical component of the aircraft’s ability to achieve safe landings. Investigators are likely to examine the maintenance records of the aircraft, looking for signs of previous issues or potential missed inspections that could have contributed to the malfunction.
The crash has also prompted a review of Toronto Pearson International Airport’s operations. Flight delays and disruptions were noted as a result of the emergency response and the temporary closure of the runway where the incident occurred. Toronto Pearson is one of Canada’s busiest airports, and the crash has raised concerns about how the incident will impact both short- and long-term airport operations.
As the investigation continues, Delta Air Lines has pledged to cooperate fully with authorities and provide necessary assistance to the affected passengers and crew. Families of those onboard are anxiously awaiting updates on the safety of their loved ones, while aviation experts are closely monitoring the progress of the investigation to determine how this mechanical failure led to the tragic crash.