TORONTO (AP) — A Delta Air Lines aircraft had a terrifying incident during its landing in Toronto last month. According to a preliminary report from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), the plane experienced a severe descent just moments before touchdown.
On February 17, as the flight from Minneapolis approached the airport, its ground proximity warning system activated just 2.6 seconds before landing. At that time, the aircraft was traveling at about 136 knots (around 250 kph or 155 mph). Unfortunately, during the landing, the landing gear failed, the wing detached, and the plane skidded on the runway, ultimately flipping over and catching fire. Remarkably, all 76 passengers and four crew members survived, but 21 people sustained injuries.
Expert interviews have highlighted that incidents like this are rarely due to a single cause. TSB chair Yoan Marier emphasized that accidents often involve multiple complex factors, which could include pilot training and systemic issues within airline operations.
After the plane came to a stop, passengers hurried to evacuate. Sadly, some were injured as they unbuckled their seatbelts, resulting in falls that caused them to hit the ceiling. Fortunately, all hospitalized individuals were released within days.
The cockpit door was jammed, requiring the pilots to escape through an emergency hatch, which added to the urgency of the situation. First responders arrived quickly, but there was an explosion near the left wing shortly afterward. The cause of this explosion is still under investigation.
So far, the investigation has found no pre-existing issues with the flight controls, although several components were damaged during the crash. The TSB is now focusing on various key areas, such as the metallurgical condition of the wing structure and the effectiveness of the passenger evacuation process.
Recent data show that air travel safety has generally improved over the past few decades, with the number of incidents steadily decreasing. However, high-profile events like this remind us that aviation safety remains a priority. Public concern has grown, with social media buzzing with reactions from those who experienced the incident and their families.
As of now, Delta has declined to comment on the preliminary findings, stating that it is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, lawsuits have already begun to emerge from affected passengers, signaling the legal ramifications that often follow such dramatic incidents.
For further updates, readers may want to visit reliable sources like the Transportation Safety Board of Canada for ongoing insights and developments regarding aviation safety.
Check out this related article: Tesla Investor Urges Musk to Diminish Trump Ties Amidst Massive Recall of 46,000 Cybertrucks
Source linkCanada, Plane crashes, Toronto, General news, MN State Wire, Trending News, Business, Minneapolis, World news
