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Flight 4819

Delta Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, represents a significant incident in recent aviation history that drew widespread attention after the aircraft crashed during landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport. On February 17, 2025, the Bombardier CRJ900 encountered challenging weather conditions, including gusty winds reaching up to 64 km/h and blowing snow, resulting in a dramatic crash landing that caused the plane to flip upside down. Remarkably, all 80 occupants—76 passengers and four crew members—were safely evacuated, though 21 sustained injuries ranging from minor to critical, underscoring the importance of emergency preparedness and effective evacuation procedures. The incident has prompted investigations by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board to determine the causes and contributing factors, focusing on issues like the aircraft's high descent rate of over 1,100 feet per minute during approach and mechanical failures upon landing. Preliminary reports indicate that a critical component of the right landing gear fractured, leading to severe structural damage, including the separation of the right wing, which ignited a fire on impact. Despite the accident's severity, the successful evacuation, aided by the aircraft's safety features and crew responses, has been credited with preventing fatalities, demonstrating aviation safety advancements even amidst unforeseen challenges. This incident remains a crucial case study in aviation safety and emergency response protocols, highlighting the measures and resilience that define modern air travel.

What did passengers experience during the Toronto plane crash?

Passengers described utterly surreal and shocking experiences after their Delta regional jet flipped upside down upon landing in Toronto. They reported hanging like bats in their seats while witnessing fire and smoke on the ground around them. Many described seeing sparks and flames as they remained suspended upside down before they could evacuate the aircraft. Miraculously, no one lost their lives in this terrifying incident. Of the 80 passengers aboard, 21 were taken to hospitals, with 19 of them released shortly afterward. The investigation is ongoing to determine if severe weather conditions contributed to the crash.

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NBC News

02:19 - 02:55

What were the recent plane crashes reported in this CBS News segment?

The news segment reported multiple recent aviation incidents. A crash in Philadelphia resulted in seven fatalities, while a private jet crash in Scottsdale, Arizona just last week killed one person. The report also mentioned a Delta flight incident in Toronto where a plane flipped upside down during landing, with all 80 passengers surviving despite injuries. These incidents have contributed to rising anxiety among travelers, though the segment noted that commercial flying remains statistically safe.

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CBS News

08:42 - 08:54

What happened to Delta Flight 4819 at Toronto Pearson Airport?

Delta Airlines Flight 4819, operating from Minneapolis to Toronto and operated by subsidiary Endeavor Air, was involved in a single aircraft accident upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport. The incident occurred at approximately 2:15 PM on the day before this report. The flight was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members, with injuries ranging from minor to critical, though fortunately no fatalities were reported. Despite challenging weather conditions due to recent snowstorms, the flight crew and first responders demonstrated heroism during the emergency evacuation of the aircraft.

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CBS News

01:46 - 02:12

How does video evidence assist investigators in aviation accident investigations?

Video evidence plays a vital role in aviation accident investigations by helping investigators determine both the aircraft's behavior prior to touchdown and what happened after landing. As explained by Gregory Feith, a former NTSB Air Safety Investigator, these visual records provide crucial insights into the entire landing sequence. The examination of what went wrong during incidents like Delta Flight 4819's crash landing at Toronto Pearson Airport is significantly enhanced through video analysis. This evidence allows investigators to reconstruct the accident timeline and observe aircraft movements that might not be captured by other data sources, making it a crucial component in the comprehensive investigation process.

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CBS News

29:35 - 29:49

Who decides when it's safe for flights to operate during bad weather conditions?

While airports have control over operations, the ultimate decision about flight safety during adverse weather conditions is determined by pilots and airlines. As former NTSB Air Safety Investigator Gregory Feith explains, even if an airport is attempting to catch up on delayed flights, it's the airlines and pilots who evaluate whether it is safe to operate at that airport. This assessment process creates a dual responsibility system where airports manage the operational aspects while flight crews make the final safety determinations based on their professional judgment of weather conditions and aircraft capabilities.

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CBS News

26:55 - 27:25

What extreme weather conditions did Toronto Pearson Airport face recently?

From Thursday to Sunday, Toronto Pearson Airport experienced extreme weather conditions with two separate snowstorms occurring on Thursday and Sunday. These severe weather events resulted in more than 20 inches (50 centimeters) of accumulated snow at the airport. The consecutive snowstorms created significant operational challenges for the airport, leading to hundreds of canceled flights as mentioned in the description.

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CBS News

03:33 - 03:47

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