TORONTO (AP) – Delta LineJet's alert system, which flipped upside down and exploded into flames after attempting to land in Toronto last month, shows its high descent rate of speed, under three seconds of touchdowns.
The Canada Road Safety Board, which issued the report, continues its investigation into the February 17 crash landing, in which 21 people were hospitalized.
All 76 passengers and four crew survived when a Delta plane arrived from Minneapolis turned over and slid over the tarmac before surging.
According to a report by the TSB of Canada, when the plane's grounded proximity warning system rang 2.6 seconds before the touchdown, the airspeed was 136 knots, or about 250 kph (155 mph). The plane's landing gear folded into a retracted position during a touchdown, the wings were detached from the fuselage, and clouds of jet fuel were released, setting fire as the plane slid along the runway.
The torso rolled upside down, with most of the tail coming off in the process, the report said.
“Accidents and incidents rarely arise from a single cause,” TSB Chairman Joan Maria said in a video statement Thursday. “They are often the result of multiple complex, interconnected factors, many extend beyond aircraft, and their operations extend to broader systematic issues.”
Crews and passengers began evacuating when the plane stopped, according to the report, adding that some passengers were injured when they unleashed their seat belts and fell to the ceiling.
TSB says it is not aware of seat belts and seating issues during the incident.
The cockpit doors were closed and closed, forcing the pilot to escape the emergency hatch on the cockpit ceiling after others left, the report says.
An emergency responder then entered the fuselage and soon afterwards there was an explosion outside the plane near the root of the left wing, TSB says. The cause of the explosion has not been determined yet.
So far, the investigation has not found any existing flight control issues, but some components have been damaged in crash crashes.
The Safety Commission says the ongoing investigation focuses on several key areas, including metallurgical inspection of wing structures, landing technology, pilot training and the passenger evacuation process.
All those hospitalized were released within days of crash.
At least two lawsuits have been filed in the US, with the Canadian law firm saying it is held by several passengers.
Delta declined to comment on the preliminary report.
“We remain fully involved as participants in the investigation led by the Canada Road Safety Board. We respect the integrity of this work that continues through our final report, and Air and Delta will decline to comment,” the airline said.
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