Earlier today, a Delta Airlines crash in Toronto means that, in 2025 alone, there have been three notable incidents involving Bombardier CRJ aircraft operated by major U.S. airlines.
Each Incident In Brief
Delta Connection Flight 4819 Crash in Toronto (February 17, 2025): A Bombardier CRJ-900LR operated by Endeavor Air on behalf of Delta Connection crashed upon landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The aircraft flipped over on the runway, coming to rest upside down. All 80 occupants survived, but 17 individuals sustained injuries. More here.
United Express flight flight UA4427 (February 12th 2025): ACRJ-550 operated by GoJet (N549GJ), suffered a runway excursion after landing on runway 11 in snowy conditions at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL).
The plane, carrying 27 passengers and crew, came to a rest in a grassy area. There were no injuries reported.
3. Mid-Air Collision Involving American Eagle Flight 5342 (January 29, 2025): An American Eagle Bombardier CRJ701ER, operating as Flight 5342, collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. Tragically, all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft perished. This marked the first fatal accident involving the Bombardier CRJ700 series.
Should We Be Worried About This Aircraft Type?
The short answer to this question is no. The CRJ family (CRJ-100, CRJ-200, CRJ-700, CRJ-900, CRJ-1000) has been in service since the early 1990s, and for the most part, its safety record is exceptional—especially when considering the incident rate compared to other regional jets, as well as the challenging weather conditions in which they often operate in regional areas.
Notable CRJ Accidents Involving Fatalities:
Mid-Air Collision (CRJ-700) – January 29, 2025
Location: Potomac River near Washington, D.C., USA
Cause: Collision with a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
Fatalities: All 67 onboard both aircraft.
Comair Flight 5191 (CRJ-100) – August 27, 2006
Location: Lexington, Kentucky, USA
Cause: Pilot error – attempted takeoff from the wrong, too-short runway.
Fatalities: 49 of 50 onboard (only the first officer survived).
China Eastern Airlines Flight 5210 (CRJ-200) – November 21, 2004
Location: Baotou, China
Cause: Severe icing caused loss of control during takeoff.
Fatalities: 53 onboard + 2 on the ground.
Bombardier Test Flight (CRJ-100) – July 26, 1993
Location: Wichita, Kansas, USA
Cause: Pilot-induced oscillation during stall testing.
Fatalities: All 3 crew members.
Northwest Airlink Flight 5719 (CRJ-200) – December 1, 1993
Location: Hibbing, Minnesota, USA
Cause: Pilot error – controlled flight into terrain on approach.
Fatalities: 18 onboard.
What about the safety rating for the big US Carriers?
American Airlines, Delta, and United are all rated 7/7 for safety on the AirlineRatings website. In our World’s Safest Airlines for 2025 report, these airlines ranked 13th, 21st, and 23rd, respectively.
At this stage, the incidents do not appear to be the fault of the pilots or airlines, so their ratings remain unchanged despite recent events. However, if further investigations determine otherwise, their ratings will be adjusted accordingly.
READ: Aviation in Crisis: A Startling Look at Recent Incidents
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