Just a few days ago, two Delta Connection Bombardier CRJ900 regional planes collided on the tarmac at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA). The low-speed collision is just the latest incident to punctuate a troubled operational history for the airframe with Delta Air Line’s subsidiary carriers. Flying for Endeavor Air and other regional operators, the CRJ900s in service with Delta have been in the headlines on a number of occasions but for all the wrong reasons.
Cabin pressure loss, smoke detector alarms, and wing strikes have plagued Delta’s small jet fleet over the past several months. The aircraft serve a critical role by ferrying flyers from hubs to small airfields nearer to their local communities. That means operating in proximity to larger airliners in dense traffic patterns, as well as flying in and out of small fields with general aviation activity and limited supporting infrastructure or services.
Fortunately, very few aircraft have had to be written off due to accidental damage, with two hull losses to date, according to the Aviation Safety Network. The litany of emergency diversions, groundings, and major repairs has started to form a pattern. Despite offering first class cabin products, is the CRJ900 a cursed Delta jet?
The Good: First Class By Delta Connection
The cabin space of the CRJ900 is open from the flight deck to the tail end bulkhead, but the first class seating layout is 2-1 as opposed to the 2-2 configuration of the economy class section. The jets are a bit older on average, with Endeavor Air’s 120-strong fleet around 15 years old, as Planespotters.net data reveals. The cabin space is not opulent by modern standards, but the extra legroom, wider seats, and service quality make it a more comfortable option for riding along in a puddle jumper.
If you’re traveling with a companion, the seat pairs are perfect, and if you’re flying solo, the standalone row of seats is a great way to get privacy and extra elbow room in an otherwise small commercial plane cabin. The seat backs don’t have inflight entertainment (IFE) for the short hops, but they do have international/universal power outlets for customers to charge up on the last leg before reaching their destination.
Coffee, water, snacks, and drinks are all provided throughout the short flight time aboard the Delta Connection flights. One Mile At A Time reported that the cabin product is quite comfortable in first class aboard the CRJ900 and, with a good service experience, it can be a truly elevated regional flight option. With such a solid product onboard, it’s a shame that accidents have marred the image.
The Bad: CRJ900 Diversions And Emergencies
In December 2024, Delta Air Lines Fliight 3831 was on a nonstop route from Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). It was forced to divert to Albany International Airport (ALB) after the aircraft lost cabin pressure while cruising at an altitude of 30,000 feet. Pressure loss at high altitude is very dangerous because the crew can lose consciousness and crash the plane in a worst-case scenario.
Information available through ch-aviation reveals that the 76-seat jet, registered as N689CA, is nearly 18 years old. The replacement aircraft sent to carry the flyers to their final destination was an Embraer E175. The total time reached nearly 10 hours for the passengers en route to Detroit. The danger of low oxygen in the cabin demands a rapid descent below 10,000 feet and expedited landing in the event that the backup systems fail.
A few months later, another CRJ900 departed New York JFK Airport (JFK) and shortly had to make an emergency landing at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). This Bombardier jet flying for Delta Connection experienced a smoke detector alarm just before approach as the plane was descending into the destination.
Due to the extremely high risk of incapacitation, smoke and fumes in the cabin are one of the most dangerous inflight emergencies that can occur. The potential consequences include pilots passing out at the controls, which would lead to a catastrophic and fatal crash. The alarm demands an immediate emergency landing to prevent any tragic accidents. After the plane touched down, it appeared to be a malfunction, which is good news but also unfortunate luck for the flyers and airlines.
The Ugly: Belly Up CRJ
February 2025 witnessed the most dramatic and destructive incident when a CRJ900 flying into Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) under Endeavor Air struck the runway and rolled over after impact. The pilots of Delta flight 4819 landed during harsh winter weather. They put the plane down hard, and the landing gear failed as it was rolling down the runway to a stop.
After the plane’s landing gear failed, its right wing struck the ground and separated from the fuselage. As the crippled jet rolled over onto its back, a fire erupted from the broken fuel tanks and still running engines. It slid to the runway intersection before coming to a rest.
The plane had departed from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) with 76 passengers and four crew. Luckily, all survived the crash. 20 of the souls aboard were injured and treated, but no fatalities resulted from the mishap. The rapid response of emergency services was crucial in saving the lives of the people evacuating from the burning wreckage.
In the aftermath of the crash, Delta CEO Ed Bastian gave these comments:
“The Delta and Endeavor families are grateful that all those injured Monday have been released from the hospital, and we extend our thanks to everyone who provided care to them over the past few days. We will continue to connect one-on-one with customers, employees and loved ones as we move forward to make sure their needs are met with care.”
Delta has fully cooperated with the investigation led by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. To date, only the preliminary report has been published. Leaving the conclusion as to the full causes open-ended.
More Ground Strikes
Earlier this March, an Endeavor Air CRJ900 flying a Delta Connection flight with service from Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) to LaGuardia Airport (LGA) struck its wing on the ground during approach. Around 22:00 at night, the pilot was forced to perform a go-around and try another landing. Communications between air traffic control (ATC) and the pilots showed that the tower saw sparks, but the crew reported not feeling the impact.
Delta Connection flight DL-4814 that night was flying a 17-year-old CRJ900 registered as N185GJ, per ch-aviation data. Thankfully, the second attempt allowed for a safe landing and all the souls aboard made it to their destination despite the scare and minor delay. The jet was held on the ground afterward, a sign that damage had been done, but no other information was released regarding the incident.
Once again at LaGuardia, the most recent mishap involved not one, but two Delta Connection CRJ900s. Taxiing at night, around 22:00, the right wing of one plane struck the nose of the other jet. Delta flight 5155, tail number N902XJ, was departing for Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA). Tail number N480PX, flying Delta flight 5047 from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), had just landed on Runway 4.
The resulting collision caused substantial damage to the two planes, shattering windows, crumpling the nose of N480PX while knocking off the winglet and mangling the wing of N902XJ. The cabin crew were reportedly hospitalized with minor injuries. The operations at LaGuardia were able to proceed, but the two jets will be in long-term repair cycles for the extensive aerostructure damage that resulted from the mishap.
What’s Going On?
Regional jets have historically had a higher accident rate than larger mainline airlines, according to a thorough analysis of accident statistics. This disparity has been closing as a result of stricter regulations implemented by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other international regulatory agencies. The exact nature of the phenomenon with Delta’s CRJ900 is purely speculative at this point.
Rather than intrinsic differences in aircraft safety, operational variables are likely the primary causes of the somewhat higher accident rates among regional jets. Regional jets typically operate short-haul routes, resulting in more frequent takeoffs and landings—phases known to carry higher risk. Mainline pilots tend to be older and have seniority. Therefore, pilots at regional airlines tend to have less experience than those at major airlines.
The business strategy of small airlines, which has traditionally paid pilots less and required them to work longer hours, is another contributing factor. Compared to the more financially stable mainline airlines, this can result in a less developed safety culture or more pilot fatigue.
Regional carrier training programs are essential for developing pilot proficiency, because they transform comparatively untrained people into skilled airline operators. The general perception is that although all pilots follow rigorous safety procedures, there is a noticeable difference in experience levels, which is primarily caused by the organized transfer from regional to mainline airlines rather than a basic difference in ability levels.