Delta Regional Jet Flipped at Toronto Airport After Landing Gear Failure, Preliminary Report Finds

A Delta Connection CRJ-900 regional jet suffered a landing gear failure upon touchdown at Toronto Pearson International Airport in February, leading to a fiery crash that left passengers temporarily suspended upside down, according to a preliminary report from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), CNN reports.

The Endeavor Air-operated Flight 4819, traveling from Minneapolis to Toronto on February 17, encountered issues just before landing. Investigators noted that less than three seconds before touchdown, an audible alarm alerted pilots that the aircraft was descending too quickly and had banked to the right. Despite this warning, the aircraft continued its rapid descent before striking the runway at a 7.5-degree right tilt.

Upon impact, the side-stay of the right main landing gear fractured, causing the gear to collapse. This led to the right wing detaching from the fuselage, spilling 6,000 pounds of jet fuel, which ignited a fire and explosion. As the aircraft rolled upside down, all 80 passengers and crew were left hanging in their seats, with 21 individuals injured, including two seriously.

The crash severely damaged the cockpit door, forcing the pilots to escape through an emergency hatch in the ceiling. Meanwhile, flight attendants and passengers evacuated the overturned aircraft as emergency crews responded to the scene.

While the preliminary report provides an initial assessment of the events leading to the crash, investigators have not yet determined the root cause of the landing gear failure. The full investigation, which could take up to 600 days, will examine:

• The metallurgical composition of the wing and landing gear
• The certification process for these components
• The flight crew’s landing techniques and training
• The effectiveness of the evacuation and crew coordination

TSB Chair Yoan Marier emphasized that aviation accidents are often the result of multiple complex factors rather than a single cause. The investigation will seek to understand any potential systemic issues that may have contributed to the crash.

Delta Air Lines released a statement reaffirming its commitment to safety, stating:

“For everyone at Endeavor Air and Delta, nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and our people.”

The airline also confirmed its full cooperation with the ongoing investigation but declined to comment further until the final report is completed.