A Delta Air Lines plane traveling from Minneapolis to Toronto’s Pearson Airport crashed while landing on February 17, flipping upside down. All 80 passengers survived, but at least 18 of those passengers sustained minor injuries and two were in critical condition. Officials have not determined the cause of the accident.
This crash is just one of the recent patterns of aviation disasters across North America. On the night of January 29, an American Airlines plane collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people on board. Just two days later in Philadelphia on January 31, a medical transportation plane crashed, taking the lives of six passengers and other bystanders on the ground. Meanwhile, an aviation crash in Alaska on February 6 killed individuals.
The plane accident at the Toronto Pearson Airport is a rare and unusual event, according to experts. Thomas Anthony, an aviation safety expert and director of the USC Aviation Safety and Security Program, said that even with his 44 years of experience in the industry, the recent Delta crash was out of the ordinary.
“The other thing that is notable about this accident is how many times have you heard of an airplane flipping over on landing? I haven’t,” he said.
Anthony explained that plane crashes never happen because of just one single cause.
Since icy and snowy weather is common in Canada, investigators need to further research what made this landing different.
Planes are designed to be balanced “with two engines, two wings and two main landing gears,” according to Anthony. If something disturbed this balance, it could explain why the plane flipped over.
Even though this accident is serious, Anthony said he wants to reassure people that flying is still extremely safe.
“If we went to the airport and got on one flight per day, it would take us 4,000 years to get involved in an aircraft accident,” he said. “I would definitely say that I have no hesitancy of walking out my front door here, walking to terminal one, and getting on a flight — a commercial aviation flight — to anywhere today, right now. Or my wife doing the same thing or any of my three children or grandchildren.”
Despite recent news coverage of high-profile plane crashes, new data from the National Transportation Safety Board shows that air travel is actually safer than ever. January 2025 recorded the lowest number of total airplane accidents on record, with 18 fewer incidents than the same month last year, CNN reports. While tragic crashes like the Delta flight in Toronto and the American Airlines collision have dominated headlines, the overall trend points to fewer accidents and fatalities compared to previous years. Aviation experts emphasize that while any crash is alarming, the broader statistics reaffirm that flying remains one of the safest modes of transportation.
USC’s international student population is 26.6% of the school’s student body. Many students are required to fly home, and with so many recent aviation disasters, are beginning to develop concerns about flying.
Ashley Levy, a master’s student studying urban planning, said “the recent news has definitely made me uncomfortable.”
“But it’s not enough to make me stop traveling,” Levy said.
For others, the fear is more personal. Aakank Shaberu, a sophomore studying computer science, regularly flies between the U.S. and India and feels increasingly anxious about flying.
“It is very concerning because I have to travel back to India every summer… air travel is a huge part of my life. It feels not secure, and I do feel a little scared,” she said. “It’s worrying for me because it’s something that’s unavoidable for me, so I need to take that risk every time I travel.”
Despite growing concerns, the incidents have not stopped people from traveling. Emma Ferguson, a graduate student studying film production, expressed her unease but remains committed to flying.
“My family’s very far away. I don’t want to reduce the amount of time I see them, but also want to reduce the chance of getting into a horrible plane crash,” Ferguson said.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with new National Transportation Safety Board aviation data showing fewer accidents and fatalities, confirming air travel remains highly safe.