Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines, as a major global carrier, maintains its safety operations in a highly regulated industry.

• Recent Safety Record and Notable Incidents: Delta has experienced several incidents in recent years. In February 2025, a Delta Connection flight operated by its subsidiary Endeavor Air crashed upon landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport, flipping over on the runway and resulting in 21 reported injuries, though all 80 passengers and crew survived. Other incidents in 2025 include an Airbus A330 engine catching fire before takeoff and a Boeing 767-400 experiencing an engine fire mid-air. In September 2024, a Delta Airbus A350-900 collided with a Delta Connection Bombardier CRJ900 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, causing damage but no reported injuries. Data since 2022 indicates Delta has recorded 170 incidents and 12 accidents, with Endeavor Air experiencing 14 incidents and three accidents. Historically, notable accidents include Delta Air Lines Flight 191 in August 1985, which crashed due to a microburst, killing 134 of 163 people on board, and Delta Air Lines Flight 1141 in August 1988, which crashed on takeoff due to improperly set flaps, resulting in 14 fatalities.

• Regulatory Certifications: As a major U.S. airline, Delta Air Lines is subject to rigorous oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is required to comply with all U.S. aviation safety standards. While specific mentions of certifications like IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) or its status on the EU Air Safety List were not explicitly found in the provided information, compliance with stringent U.S. regulations is fundamental to its operations.

• Fleet Age and Maintenance Reputation: As of December 2024, Delta's average fleet age is 14.9 years. Delta is known for a strategy of keeping its aircraft operational longer than many other carriers, with over 60 aircraft more than 30 years old as of February 2025. This strategy is supported by its highly regarded in-house maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) division, Delta TechOps. Delta TechOps is the second-largest MRO provider in North America and is credited with meticulously maintaining Delta's diverse fleet, enabling the safe operation of older aircraft.

• Overall Safety Assessment: Delta's safety assessment reflects a commitment to maintaining its fleet through extensive in-house maintenance, Delta TechOps, which allows it to operate a diverse fleet with a significant number of older aircraft safely. While the airline has experienced recent incidents, the industry as a whole continuously works on improving safety protocols and learning from such events.

• Safety Awards or Recognitions: Delta Air Lines' Corporate Safety & Compliance Department received the 1999 Air BP Ramp Safety Award from the Flight Safety Foundation for significant improvements in ramp safety. More recently, Delta has been awarded the Cirium Platinum Award for operational excellence and recognized as North America's Most On-Time Airline multiple times, including for 2024. These awards, while not directly safety-specific, reflect high operational standards which are inherently linked to safety and reliability.