Tragedy struck on February 17th, 2025 when a Delta Air Lines plane crashed at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The flight, which departed from Minneapolis, Minnesota, was operated by a CRJ900 aircraft. There were about 80 people on board, 76 of whom were passengers and 4 were crew members. Despite the severity of the crash, everyone thankfully survived, but 21 individuals were injured.

The incident occurred during challenging weather conditions. Toronto has recently experienced a snowstorm, and at the time of landing, there were strong winds with gusts up to 64km/h. As the plane attempted to land, it bounced on the snowy runway and flipped upside down. Passengers described the scene as chaotic, with many struggling to unbuckle their seat belts. Emergency responders arrived at the scene hastily, and they responded to the scene and helped everyone get out of the aircraft. 

The crash also caused significant disruptions at the airport. All runways were temporarily closed, resulting in the cancellations of over 200 flights. Experts are examining factors such as snowy runway conditions and strong winds. Video footage shows the plane flipping before landing, suggesting a strong gust of wind contributed to the plane crashing. 

In the aftermath, Delta Air Lines’ CEO praised the experienced flight crew for their quick actions to make sure everyone stays safe. The airline is committed to supporting its passengers and has expressed its gratitude as well for the cooperation of the passengers in such dire situations.

This incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of air travel, especially during extreme weather conditions. While flying remains one of the safest modes of transportation, events like this show the need for continuous emphasis on safety protocols and rigorous training for flight crews. Situations like these regarding flights have been appearing more than ever, making people question if flying truly is the best mode of transportation now. Sophomore, Ashley Kuruvilla, talked about how she’s scared to fly after hearing about this crash. “Me and my family fly all the time, that is our main form of transportation when we go on vacation. It’s really scary because this wasn’t even the only crash in the span of like two weeks. I have a feeling people are going to start trying to take more local vacations so they can go on road trips and avoid flying. I can’t imagine being in a situation like that. It’s really scary to think about.” 

Now there is also a lawsuit being introduced by Delta Air lines, offering each passenger 30,000 dollars. These are due to claims from people complaining of “extreme bodily and mental injuries” and that the flight crew failed to observe “the most fundamental procedures for landing approach.” Delta has said in a statement that both pilots were certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and that the captain had served in pilot training and flight safety. The plane has since been removed from the runway and all 21 passengers injured have been released from the hospital. 

This crash was just one of another that happened just a few days after. People have been worried about airplanes being less reliable, especially after two accidents. These incidents make some wonder if airports are getting less safe. Even though airplanes have advanced technology, problems like delayed maintenance and faulty parts are becoming more common. There have also been more reports of planes having issues mid-flight, which makes passengers nervous. Airlines are trying to save money and run more flights, but some people think this could lead to more mistakes. If safety rules aren’t followed carefully, there might be even more problems with planes in the future.