A Delta Air Lines plane crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on February 17, resulting in 21 of 76 passengers being hospitalized. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has released preliminary findings into the incident.
According to Ken Webster, the TSB’s lead investigator, the aircraft was flying within its allowable weight and balance limitations when it crashed. However, several things occurred that led to the incident, including a fractured side-stay, landing gear retraction, and wing root fractures.
The plane’s right-wing detached, releasing jet fuel that caught fire as it slid down the runway. The cockpit door jammed shut, prompting flight crew to exit through the emergency hatch. An explosion erupted outside the aircraft, but the cause is still unknown.
Preliminary data from the flight data recorder showed no caution or warning messages prior to the incident. The Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) did not sound off when the plane downed.
The captain of the plane has been flying for 18 years and has over 3,570 hours of experience. However, he was on his first flight of the day and had flown only three-and-a-half hours in the past 30 days. The co-pilot had worked at Endeavor Air for less than a year.
Aviation expert Phyl Durdey noted that the plane was approaching the ground at an extremely rapid rate, with a descent rate of over 1,114 feet per minute. This is significantly higher than the structural limits of the aircraft and likely led to the crash. The investigation will continue to look into factors such as landing techniques, pilot training, evacuation procedures, and organizational management.
The Delta Air Lines spokesperson stated that safety is their top priority and they are fully engaged in the TSB’s investigation.
Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/preliminary-report-on-pearson-plane-crash-released-by-tsb