A preliminary investigation into the crash-landing of a Delta Air Lines flight in Toronto last month revealed the aircraft’s alert system warned of a dangerously fast descent less than three seconds before it flipped upside down, caught fire, and skidded to a stop on the runway.
The incident, which occurred on February 17, involved a regional jet operated by Delta affiliate Endeavor Air arriving from Minneapolis.
All 76 passengers and four crew members survived, though 21 people were hospitalized. They have since been discharged, and none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Why It Matters
The crash is among the most severe involving a U.S. commercial carrier in recent years in terms of structural destruction, though there were no fatalities.
Investigators are focusing on pilot training, aircraft design and landing techniques as part of a broader probe into systemic vulnerabilities.
The agency’s review aims to determine whether procedural, technical or human factors contributed to the crash dynamics.
What To Know
The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada released initial findings on Thursday indicating no signs of pre-existing mechanical failure, but outlined a cascade of critical failures that led to the crash.
The TSB said the aircraft’s ground proximity warning system issued an alert 2.6 seconds before landing, with the plane descending at a high rate and traveling at 136 knots (approximately 155 mph).
At touchdown, the landing gear collapsed, the left wing separated from the fuselage, and a jet fuel leak ignited, triggering a runway fire as the plane rolled onto its back.
The blaze spread as the plane slid upside down, eventually coming to a halt with a detached tail section.
Passengers began evacuating immediately after the aircraft stopped. Some sustained injuries when they unbuckled seat belts while the aircraft was inverted and fell to the ceiling.
The TSB said it found no evidence of seat or seat belt malfunctions.
The pilots were forced to exit through the cockpit’s emergency ceiling hatch after the cockpit door jammed shut. Emergency responders entered the cabin shortly before an explosion erupted near the aircraft’s left wing root.
The cause of that explosion remains undetermined.
TSB investigators noted that while some aircraft components were damaged in the crash, no pre-impact issues with the flight controls have been found.
The ongoing investigation will include a metallurgical analysis of the wing, assessment of pilot procedures, and evaluation of the passenger evacuation process.
What People Are Saying
Delta Air Lines issued a statement Thursday declining to comment on the preliminary findings: “We remain fully engaged as participants in the investigation led by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Out of respect for the integrity of this work that will continue through their final report, Endeavor Air and Delta will refrain from comment.”
TSB Chair Yoan Marier, in the agency’s official briefing, reiterated that the agency will examine “wider systemic issues” beyond just aircraft operation, including organizational and regulatory oversight.
Marier emphasized the complexity of aviation accidents: “Accidents and incidents rarely stem from a single cause. They’re often the result of multiple complex, interconnected factors, many extending beyond the aircraft and its operation to wider systemic issues.”
What’s Next
TSB investigators will continue examining flight data recorders and pilot actions in the final moments before the crash. A final report may take months to complete and will include recommendations for safety improvements.
Meanwhile, at least two lawsuits have been filed in the United States over the crash, while a Canadian law firm has confirmed it is representing multiple passengers.
Further legal actions could hinge on the final investigation results and any regulatory findings related to aircraft performance or crew procedures.
This article uses reporting by The Associated Press.
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