TSB Releases Further Details on 2025 Pearson Airport Plane Crash Investigation
The federal Transportation Safety Board has released additional information regarding the plane crash at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, as the investigation continues nearly one year after the incident occurred.
Crash Details and Ongoing Investigation
Officials have been meticulously gathering evidence and working toward determining the cause of how the Endeavor Air flight arriving from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport crashed on the tarmac on February 17, 2025. The aircraft burst into flames, flipped over, and came to rest facing the opposite direction during the afternoon incident.
The investigation remains active and is currently in the examination and analysis phase, according to the safety board's latest update. After the Bombardier-manufactured aircraft came to a stop, passengers and crew members were evacuated through one door and two emergency exit windows.
Injuries and Response
The aircraft was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members at the time of the accident. Delta Air Lines, which owns Endeavor Air, reported that a total of 21 people sustained injuries during the crash, with many requiring hospitalization for their wounds.
Multiple agencies are participating in the comprehensive investigation, including representatives from:
- The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board
- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
- The Greater Toronto Airports Authority
- NAV CANADA
- The airline owner
- Aircraft and engine manufacturers
- Transport Canada
Examination and Analysis Progress
The damaged plane was removed from the runway and transported to a hangar at the airport for detailed examination. Several critical components, including the right wing, landing gear, and wing box structure, were sent to the safety board's Ottawa laboratory for further testing.
In their preliminary update, investigators confirmed that work has been completed on the fracture surfaces of the wing and landing gear, with detailed analysis currently ongoing. Data from all on-board recorders has been successfully downloaded and analyzed, including several hours of previous flight data that has been compared with information from the crash sequence.
Additional Investigation Components
A thorough review of the plane's approach, landing, evacuation procedures, and emergency response has been conducted using the airport's closed-circuit television systems. Investigators have also completed analysis of data from NAV CANADA along with weather and wind conditions present on the day of the incident.
Flight simulator exercises were conducted at the airline's facility by investigators, with analysis of these simulations currently in progress. The safety board noted that an analysis of survivability factors and the emergency response is ongoing, including examination of restraint systems, emergency egress routes, crew coordination, and aircraft rescue and firefighting response protocols.
Comparative Analysis and Future Steps
Investigators are examining similar crashes that have occurred worldwide involving other aircraft types to identify potential patterns or contributing factors. Future investigative work will concentrate on finalizing the analysis of all technical findings, flight operations data, and laboratory results.
Once this comprehensive analysis is complete, investigators will draft a final report that will determine the precise circumstances that led to the crash. The timeline for releasing this final report remains unspecified at this stage of the investigation.
