Preliminary report into Pearson airport Delta crash details wing breaking off, fire

Rochelle Raveendran · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 20, 2025 10:05 AM EDT | Last Updated: 13 minutes ago

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released a preliminary study about the Delta Air Lines clang astatine Pearson airdrome successful Toronto connected Feb. 17 that sent 21 radical to hospital. 

The report, released Thursday, contains archetypal accusation astir the incident, but does not uncover what caused the level to crash.

"It is excessively aboriginal to gully conclusions arsenic to the causes of this accident," the committee said successful a quality merchandise Thursday. "A afloat probe report, which volition see the TSB's investigation into wherefore the mishap happened and the Board's findings, volition beryllium released successful owed course." 

The flight, operated by Delta Air Lines subsidiary Endeavour Air, took disconnected from Minneapolis with 76 passengers, two flight unit members and two cabin unit members. 

"During the landing connected Runway 23, the craft impacted the runway, the close helping detached, and a occurrence ensued. The craft overturned and slid down the runway inverted, coming to remainder adjacent the intersection of Runway 23 and Runway 15L," the study said. 

Less than a 2nd earlier touchdown, the aircraft's indicated airspeed was 135 knots and its crushed velocity was 111 knots. 

Once the craft came to a stop, an evacuation began. There were 21 radical injured among the 80 connected board, with 2 people reported to person superior injuries. 

"Passengers were hanging upside down successful their seats, suspended by their information belts, and galore of the carry-on baggage and different items ended up connected the craft ceiling," the study said. 

Some of the injuries happened erstwhile passengers unbuckled their belts and fell, the study said. 

Aircraft rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) crews arrived connected country astir five minutes aft the clang landing, the study said. The crews entered the fuselage aft the level was evacuated. 

"Shortly thereafter, an detonation occurred extracurricular the craft successful the country of the near helping root," the study reads. "The origin of this detonation has yet to beryllium determined." 

The study concluded with a database of the existent areas the committee is focusing connected for its investigation, including an introspection of the landing cogwheel and wings, landing techniques and aviator training, and formation platform doorway operation and design.

In a connection Thursday, a spokesperson for Delta Air Lines and Endeavour Air said they would not remark connected the preliminary study "out of respect for the integrity of this enactment that volition proceed done their last report."