The recent accident involving a Delta Air Lines aircraft at Toronto’s Pearson Airport has marked the fourth significant aviation incident in North America over the past month.
This article will overview each of the recent crashes.
On Monday, a Delta flight from Minneapolis encountered trouble upon landing at Pearson Airport, ultimately flipping and ending up on its roof. This unfortunate event resulted in injuries to at least 17 individuals. The airport officials confirmed that all 80 passengers and crew members were accounted for, and Ornge air ambulance services reported that they transported one child to Toronto’s SickKids hospital along with two critically injured adults to various local hospitals for immediate care.
Footage from the scene revealed the aircraft, a Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR, overturned on the snowy runway while emergency personnel worked to manage the situation.
Meteorological data indicated that the conditions at the airport included blowing snow accompanied by winds reaching speeds of 32 mph (51 kph) and gusting up to 40 mph (65 mph), with temperatures around 16.5 degrees (minus 8.6 Celsius).
Endeavor Air, a Delta subsidiary and the largest operator of the CRJ-900 model, based in Minneapolis, was operating the flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada will lead the investigation into the incident, providing further updates as necessary.
In another tragic event on February 6, a small commuter aircraft en route to Nome, Alaska, crashed, claiming the lives of the pilot and nine passengers. The single-engine turboprop Cessna Caravan from Bering Air disappeared approximately one hour after departing from Unalakleet.
The Coast Guard reported that the aircraft was lost around 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Nome. After a comprehensive search, wreckage was located the following day on the ice.
On the day of the incident, weather conditions included light snow and fog with temperatures hovering around 17 degrees (minus 8.3 Celsius).
This commuter flight formed part of a vital network of short-distance flights that residents in this vast and rugged region depend on for access to medical services, essential supplies, and work engagements.
Among the deceased were two men on a work journey to service a crucial heating system for a water treatment plant, a retired educator supporting fellow teachers, and another individual traveling for a medical appointment.
Furthermore, on January 31, a tragic air ambulance crash occurred in a busy Philadelphia neighborhood, killing seven individuals on board a medical transport jet. This Learjet 55 was carrying a child patient, her mother, and four additional passengers when it crashed and exploded into a fireball, damaging several homes in the vicinity.
The flight had just taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport and went down less than a minute later, causing destruction across at least four city blocks.
Among the victims was a father who was in his vehicle when the plane impacted.
The aircraft, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was headed for Mexico, transporting the child, who had undergone extensive treatment at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia.
Jet Rescue operates both in Mexico and the United States, focusing on medical transport services.
Lastly, on January 29, a catastrophic midair collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington resulted in the deaths of all 67 people on board both aircraft. This incident stands as the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. since 2001.
The American Airlines flight was preparing to land from Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and four crew when it collided with the helicopter, which was on a training mission with three soldiers onboard.
Among those who lost their lives were members of the Skating Club of Boston returning from a training camp after the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, along with hunters returning from a guided expedition in Kansas, individuals affiliated with a steamfitters’ local union, and families from Fairfax County schools, including two Chinese nationals.
These incidents highlight a concerning trend in aviation safety that continues to raise alarms throughout the industry.
