TORONTO As they attempt to ascertain why a Delta Airlines jet exploded into flames and flipped upside down during its attempt to land in Toronto, investigators will take into account the weather, human error, and technical malfunction, aviation experts said Tuesday.
Video and witnesses from the scene The jet is seen landing so forcefully on Monday afternoon that its right wing is ripped off. It flips over and slides down the runway after exploding into flames.The flight from Minneapolis to Pearson International Airport in Toronto somehow survived with all 80 passengers.
The video seems to show that the right main gear disintegrated as a result of the plane’s violent landing. According to pilot and director of Virginia Tech’s aerospace and ocean engineering department, Ella Atkins, the plane rolled to the right as the tail and right wing started to skid. The right wing and tail sheared off during the rollover, and a fire started, most likely as a result of fuel leaks from at least one right wing tank and skidding.
The CEO of the airport announced on Tuesday that all but two of the 21 individuals hurt on the flight had been discharged from hospitals.
At a press conference, Deborah Flint, CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, expressed gratitude that no one was killed or seriously injured. Passengers were bravely guided to safety by the crew.
Investigation of a crash
It’s unclear what went wrong when the Mitsubishi CRJ-900, manufactured by the Canadian corporation Bombardier, touched down, as communications between the tower and the pilot were regular during approach.
According to aviation experts, investigators will take into account the ground conditions, the pilot’s pre-landing procedures, and any possible landing gear issues. With assistance from the National Transportation Safety Board of the United States, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada is spearheading the inquiry.
According to preliminary data, the weather, crosswinds, and speed and rate of descent were all within acceptable bounds, according to Juan Browne, a commercial pilot who posts about aviation events on his well-known YouTube channel.
However, prior to landing, Browne voiced reservations regarding the pilots’ behavior.
According to Browne, it seems like the plane just did not flare at all. The aircraft’s rate of descent is slowed by flaring. It was simply driven into the runway.
According to the Canadian Meteorological Service, Pearson was hit by blowing snow and winds of 32 mph with gusts up to 40 mph at the time of the collision. Approximately 16.5 degrees Fahrenheit was the temperature. According to Browne, blowing snow impairs vision.
Investigators will examine the landing gear to ensure it was securely locked in place and will take into account staffing both on the ground and in the aircraft, according to Michael McCormick, an assistant professor and program coordinator for air traffic management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The number of workers on the aircraft and in the control towers will be examined. Additionally, McCormick stated that they will examine their timetables. Do they get enough sleep? Do they have enough employees?
On preliminary theories, however, a Canadian investigator declined to comment.
As he stood close to the wreckage of the plane on Tuesday, TSB Senior Investigator Ken Webster stated in a video statement that it is now far too early to determine the cause of this tragedy.
In addition to removing the flight data and cockpit voice recorders and sending them to the lab for processing, he said investigators will inspect the runway and wreckage.
It all kind of went in a different direction.
The landing was extremely powerful, according to Peter Carlson, who was on his way to Toronto for an EMS conference.
Everything just kind of went sideways all of a sudden, and the next thing I know, I’m upside down and still strapped in,” he told CBC News.
Because of the safety measures taken by airlines and aircraft manufacturers, such as wings that can be removed to lessen explosions, well-trained flight crews, and seats that can endure impacts of up to 16 times the force of gravity, everyone survived the Delta tragedy.
According to McCormick, that seat is your most valuable asset for protection. The flight attendants circle the aircraft before landing for a reason: to ensure that everyone is wearing their seat belts.
Is flying safe, though?
In recent weeks, there have been four significant aviation accidents in North America. On January 29, 67 persons were killed when an Army helicopter and a commercial airliner crashed close to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. On January 31, six passengers and one person on the ground perished in a medical transport plane crash in Philadelphia. Additionally, a plane crash in Alaska on February 6 claimed the lives of ten individuals.
Air travel is very safe, though, according to Jeff Guzzetti, an airline safety consultant and former FAA and NTSB investigator.
According to Guzzetti, the chances of being hurt or killed in an accident on a commercial airline are significantly lower than while driving a car.
Nevertheless, he is concerned about the Trump administration’s planned cutbacks at the Federal Aviation Administration. “I’m worried that the proposed changes and cuts to the FAA might make more accidents possible,” he stated.
Around 2:10 p.m., the Delta flight was given the all-clear to land. According to audio records, the pilots were alerted by the control tower to a potential air flow bump during approach.
According to John Cox, CEO of the aviation safety consultancy company Safety Operating Systems in St. Petersburg, Florida, the aircraft are built and tested to withstand wind. The pilots have the expertise and training to manage that.
Carlson claimed that he crashed onto the ceiling, which had turned into the floor, after removing his seat belt. He understood they all needed to go after smelling gas and observing aviation fuel dripping down the cabin windows. After helping a mother and her son exit the aircraft with another guy, Carlson landed on the snowy tarmac.
“We all just wanted to get off the plane,” he stated.
