On February 17, 2026, an incident at Toronto Pearson International Airport resulted in a Delta Air Lines jet overturning and landing upside down on the tarmac, injuring 21 people. All 80 individuals aboard the aircraft survived the crash, which occurred during snowy conditions, according to reports.
The incident echoes historical aviation challenges during inclement weather. While details surrounding the cause of the Delta flight’s mishap remain under investigation, the event brought into focus the complexities of winter operations at major international airports.
February 17th likewise marks the 12th anniversary of Jimmy Fallon’s debut as host of “The Tonight Show” on NBC, which occurred on February 17, 2014. The show, featuring The Roots as the house band, has become a fixture of late-night television.
Looking back in history, February 17th has been a date of significant political and social events. In 1801, the U.S. House of Representatives resolved a tied Electoral College vote by selecting Thomas Jefferson as the third president of the United States, with Aaron Burr serving as vice president after 35 ballots. In 1909, Apache leader Geronimo died while under military confinement at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and remains buried there despite previous attempts to return his remains to Arizona.
The date also commemorates the first publication of Newsweek magazine in 1933 and the opening of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1968. More recently, in 2008, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia, a move recognized by the United States, Britain, Germany, and France, though it also sparked violent protests from others.
In 2011, the British government extended the right to form civil partnerships in church to same-sex couples. Financial struggles also marked the date in 2009, when General Motors and Chrysler requested an additional $14 billion in government aid, bringing their total requests to $39 billion.
Tragedy also marked February 17th in past years. In 1979, China invaded Vietnam following the latter’s attack on Cambodia, initiating the monthlong Sino-Vietnamese War. In 1993, a ferry capsized off the coast of Haiti during a storm, resulting in over 500 deaths. A devastating landslide in the Philippines on February 17, 2006, claimed more than 1,100 lives, including numerous children at an elementary school.
