A recent incident involving a Delta Airlines flight in Toronto marks the fourth significant aviation calamity to occur in North America within a month. Below is a summary of each of the notable crashes that have occurred recently.
On Monday, a Delta Airlines aircraft, arriving from Minneapolis to Toronto’s Pearson Airport, tragically flipped and ended up on its roof. This incident resulted in injuries to at least 17 individuals. The airport confirmed that there had been an “incident” with the Delta flight, emphasizing that all 80 passengers and crew members were accounted for. Ornge air ambulance reported transporting a child to Toronto’s SickKids hospital and two critically injured adults to various hospitals within the city. Video footage from the scene showed the Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR in an overturned position on the snowy runway while emergency personnel were managing the situation. At the time, weather conditions included blowing snow and wind gusts reaching up to 40 mph. The temperature stood at a chilling 16.5 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately -8.6 degrees Celsius). Endeavor Air, a subsidiary of Delta Airlines and the largest operator of CRJ-900 jets globally, was operating the flight. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada would lead the investigation into the incident and provide further updates as needed.
In another tragic event, a commuter plane tragically crashed in Alaska on February 6, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and nine passengers. The single-engine turboprop Cessna Caravan, operated by Bering Air, was en route from Unalakleet to Nome when it disappeared roughly an hour after takeoff. The Coast Guard indicated that the aircraft went missing approximately 30 miles southeast of Nome. Following an extensive search, debris and the damaged fuselage of the plane were discovered on the sea ice the following day. On the day of the crash, light snow and fog were reported, and the temperature was around 17 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately -8.3 degrees Celsius). This commuter flight was part of a crucial network of short-distance flights relied upon by individuals in this vast and rugged state for medical appointments, work-related travel, grocery shopping, and other essential activities. The passengers included two men on a work trip related to a water treatment facility, a retired educator mentoring fellow teachers, and another individual who was traveling for a medical appointment.
In Philadelphia, a catastrophic accident occurred on January 31 when a medical transport jet carrying a child patient and her mother, alongside four others, crashed into a residential neighborhood. The Learjet 55 burst into flames upon impact, resulting in the death of all seven individuals onboard and injuring 19 others. The jet took off but fell sharply just after departure from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, colliding with the ground less than a minute later, approximately three miles from the airport, causing widespread destruction to at least four blocks in the area. Among the casualties was a father who was inside his vehicle at the time of the incident. The flight, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was headed to Mexico, returning the child following an extended treatment period at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. Jet Rescue operates in both Mexico and the United States.
Lastly, a devastating midair collision occurred near Washington, D.C., on January 29, involving an Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet preparing for landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport. This tragic event resulted in the deaths of all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft, marking the most deadly aviation disaster in the United States since 2001. The regional jet, which was flying from Wichita, Kansas, had 60 passengers and four crew members onboard. Reports indicate that the helicopter, which was engaged in a training exercise and carried three soldiers, flew into the path of the landing jet, leading to the tragic crash that sent both planes into the icy Potomac River. Among the deceased were members of the Skating Club of Boston, returning home from a training camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, a group of hunters coming back from a guided trip, several local union members, and multiple students and parents from schools in Fairfax County, Virginia, as well as two Chinese nationals.
