Delta Jet's Final Moments: Rapid Descent Preceded Crash in Toronto

Investigators reveal that the Delta Air Lines plane was descending at nearly double the threshold for a safe landing before it crashed in Toronto last month, resulting in a dramatic incident but no casualties.

A Delta Air Lines passenger jet experienced a harrowing descent prior to crashing in Toronto last month, according to initial findings from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. The report indicated the aircraft was falling at an alarming rate of 1,100 feet per minute—exceeding the maximum threshold of 600 feet per minute that defines a “hard landing” per the operational guidelines of Endeavor Air, the carrier operating the flight.

The warning system alerted the crew moments before touchdown about the excessive descent rate, but corrective measures failed to stabilize the aircraft. Upon landing, a component of the right main landing gear malfunctioned, leading to a rapid roll to the right as the plane skidded along the runway. The right wing detached from the fuselage, resulting in a series of flames erupting from the wreckage before the aircraft finally came to a halt upside down.

Jeff Guzzetti, formerly with the FAA and NTSB, expressed concerns that the excessive descent might have surpassed the design limits of the landing gear. Fortunately, all 80 individuals on board, comprised of 76 passengers and four crew, managed to evacuate without injury. Following their exit, an explosion occurred near the jet's left wing, adding to the chaos of the incident.