Delta Air Lines Crash: Investigation Underway After Plane Flips Over at Toronto Pearson Airport

Image credits: Sky News

The investigation into the Delta Air Lines crash at Toronto Pearson Airport is ongoing, with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) leading the probe. The crash, which occurred on Monday, resulted in 21 people being injured, but miraculously, no fatalities were reported. The plane, a Bombardier CRJ-900, was carrying 80 people, including 76 passengers and four crew members, when it crashed and flipped over on the runway. The TSB has begun removing the wreckage of the plane from the runway, and it will be taken to a hangar for further examination.

A veteran pilot, who has flown the CRJ aircraft for years, has shared their assessment of the crash, suggesting that the plane may have suffered a right main landing gear failure during a high vertical speed approach and hard landing. The pilot, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the video of the final approach shows the flight crew executing a very hard landing, and that the question is why they were flying so fast. The pilot also suggested that the strong crosswinds at the time may have been a factor, and that the pilots may have been grappling with these conditions when the crash occurred. The investigation is still in its early stages, and it may take some time to determine the exact cause of the crash.

Delta Air Lines has offered $30,000 to each of the passengers on board the plane, with no strings attached and no affect on their rights. The airline has also said that it will begin the process of reuniting passengers with their baggage and personal belongings as soon as possible, although this process may take several weeks. The TSB has released photos and videos of the crash site, showing the upside-down plane and investigators examining the wreckage. The agency has also said that it is still too early to say what might have caused the crash, and that the black boxes from the plane will be analyzed to help determine the cause.

The crash has resulted in numerous flights being delayed and cancelled, with two of the five runways at Pearson International Airport remaining closed. Airport officials have said that the runway where the crash occurred is the busiest runway in Canada, and that not having access to it has reduced the airport's capacity quite a bit. The officials have also urged travellers to check their flight statuses before leaving home, as scheduled departure times are likely to be in flux over the next 48 hours. The aviation industry is closely watching the investigation, and the cause of the crash will be carefully examined to determine what steps can be taken to prevent similar accidents in the future.

The passengers on board the plane have spoken of a very hard landing before the aircraft lost control and flipped. One passenger, Pete Koukov, told NBC News that the wheels touched down, and then all of a sudden, he was looking down and seeing sparks and flames. Another passenger, John Nelson, told CNN that some people needed help freeing themselves from their seats. The passengers have praised the flight attendants for their quick response and orderly evacuation of the plane. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and it is likely that more information will become available in the coming days and weeks.