TSB releases preliminary report into Delta crash at Toronto Pearson

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released a preliminary report about the Delta Air Lines crash at Pearson airport in Toronto on Feb. 17.

As reported by CBC News, the report, released Thursday, says the aircraft’s proximity warning system issued an alert indicating a high rate of descent less than three seconds before it touched down.

But the full picture of how and why the crash happened has yet to be revealed. 

"It is too early to draw conclusions as to the causes of this accident," the TSB said in a news release. "A full investigation report, which will include the TSB's analysis into why the accident happened and the Board's findings, will be released in due course."

As previously reported, Delta Air Lines flight 4819 from Minneapolis to Toronto, operated by subsidiary Endeavor Air, crash landed on Toronto Pearson's runway on the afternoon of Feb. 17.

Prior to crashing, the flight "proceeded uneventfully," the report noted. By 2 p.m, winds at the airport were gusting to 35 knots, and after the crew received clearance to land, they flew the approach at 149 knots, "given the reported wind gusts," the report said.

Around 2.6 seconds before touchdown, a "sink rate" alert sounded, "indicating a high rate of descent," the report said.

"At touchdown, the following occurred: the side-stay that is attached to the right [main landing gear] fractured, the landing gear folded into the retracted position, the wing root fractured between the fuselage and the landing gear, and the wing detached from the fuselage, releasing a cloud of jet fuel, which caught fire," the report said.

The plane slid along the runway and the right wing became fully detached.

"The exact sequence of these events is still to be determined by further examination of the fracture surfaces," the report said. 

"Passengers were hanging upside down"

The CRJ-900 aircraft, manufactured by Bombardier, was carrying 80 people on board — 76 passengers and four crew members.

Videos posted to social media showed the moment the plane landed, hitting the tarmac and bursting into flames. Other videos from the runway showed the aftermath of firefighters dousing the aircraft as passengers climbed out of the damaged plane. 

There were no fatalities. However, Delta later said that 21 people, including a child, were hospitalized.

"Passengers were hanging upside down in their seats, suspended by their safety belts, and many of the carry-on baggage and other items ended up on the aircraft ceiling," the report said.

Some of the injuries happened when passengers unbuckled their belts and fell, the report said.

Among the passengers, 22 of them were Canadian, while the rest were multinational, according to Deborah Flint, president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA).

Delta has since offered $30,000 in compensation to the passengers with “no strings attached.”

However, according to new U.S. court filings reviewed by CBC, nine Canadians who suffered "extreme" injuries are blaming Delta and its flight crew and seeking unspecified damages.

The investigation continues

Delta Air Lines and Endeavour Air have not commented on the preliminary report.

The TSB says the information in the report may be incomplete, may change during the investigation or new relevant facts may become known that have not yet been considered.

It has also released a video featuring the Investigator-in-charge, offering a firsthand look at the investigation progress to date.

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