The Bombardier CRJ-900, a popular regional jet, has been in service since 2001 and has an extensive safety history, with over 100 accidents recorded since 2005.
While the aircraft has never experienced a fatal crash, aviation experts suggest that it can be challenging to land, especially under difficult weather conditions.
This recent crash-landing in Toronto highlights the aircraft’s continued involvement in incidents, though most of these events have been non-fatal and attributed to external factors like bird strikes or pilot error rather than mechanical failures.
The Crash at Toronto Pearson
On Monday, a Delta flight operated by Endeavor Air, en route from Minneapolis, crash-landed at Toronto Pearson Airport, injuring at least 18 people.
The flight, carrying 76 passengers and four crew members, encountered high winds and blowing snow, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph.
Despite normal communication between the pilots and air traffic control during the approach, something went wrong when the plane touched down.
Footage shared on social media showed the aftermath: the plane, a CRJ-900LR, was overturned, but its fuselage remained intact.
Passengers were seen walking across the tarmac as firefighters extinguished the remaining flames.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and authorities are focusing on understanding why the plane ended up upside-down.
Safety Concerns and Previous Incidents
The CRJ-900 has been involved in at least 118 accidents since 2005, with most incidents not resulting in injuries.
However, the aircraft has been linked to several hard landings and runway excursions, often due to external factors.
For example, in December 2024, an Air Canada flight skidded off the runway at Halifax Stanfield International Airport because of a suspected landing gear issue.
Another incident in April 2022 saw a CRJ-900 operated by Rwandair end up on the grass at Entebbe Airport in Uganda after failing to stop on the runway.
Despite these incidents, the plane’s safety record remains relatively strong, with many accidents attributed to non-mechanical factors.
The aircraft has a proven track record of handling inclement weather, though the unusual nature of the Toronto crash has raised many questions.
Investigating the Toronto Crash
Aviation safety experts like John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems, have highlighted that it’s rare for a plane like the CRJ-900 to end up on its roof.
Cox pointed out that the missing right wing from the Toronto crash is a key detail that investigators will need to focus on, as such damage could cause the plane to roll over.
Both the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are involved in the investigation, with a focus on recovering the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder for further analysis.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed his condolences for those affected by the crash, and local officials confirmed that 18 passengers were hospitalized, with one pediatric patient flown to Toronto’s SickKids hospital.
A Pattern of Accidents
This crash in Toronto marks the fourth major aviation accident in North America within just three weeks, following a tragic midair collision near Washington, D.C., a medical transportation plane crash in Philadelphia, and a fatal incident in Alaska.
With several high-profile accidents in such a short span, questions about aviation safety are again at the forefront.
The investigation into the CRJ-900 crash in Toronto will likely yield more insights into the causes behind this incident and how to prevent similar accidents in the future.
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