On Monday, air traffic control released audio revealing the tense moment when it was realized that Delta Connection Flight 4819 was ablaze on the tarmac of Toronto Pearson Airport.
The incident involved a CRJ-900 jet operated by Endeavor Air, which crashed during its landing at the Canadian airport around 2:15 p.m. that day. On board were 80 individuals, consisting of 76 passengers and 4 crew members.
No fatalities occurred in the accident, but there were reports of at least 18 injuries, with three being severe. Around 2:13 p.m., an officer could be heard stating, “This airplane just crashed.”
“Just so you’re aware, there’s people also walking around the aircraft there,” an observer says moments later.
“The hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected by today’s incident at Toronto-Pearson International Airport,” Bastian’s statement read. “I want to express my thanks to the many Delta and Endeavor team members and the first responders on site.”
An emergency responder works around an aircraft on a runway, after a plane crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, February 17, 2025. (REUTERS/Cole Burston)
Emergency response expert Jason Pack told Fox News Digital that the incident highlights how Canadian officials react differently in these situations than Americans.
“Canada’s emergency response system shares many similarities with other countries, but also key differences in how first responders work together,” Pack noted, adding that Canada’s airport firefighters are “highly specialized” in aircraft emergencies.
“[Canadian] paramedics use a structured triage system to sort and transport patients to trauma centers,” Pack added. “However, unlike in the U.S., where firefighters often double as paramedics, Canada keeps these roles separate, meaning EMS teams must arrive in large numbers to handle medical care.”
A Delta Air Lines plane heading from Minneapolis to Toronto crashed at Toronto’s Pearson Airport, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (Teresa Barbieri/The Canadian Press via AP)
Authorities are actively investigating the incident.
Fox News Digital’s Christopher Guly contributed to this report.
