Report Reveals Landing Gear Collapse Caused Delta Plane to Flip in Toronto, All Aboard Survived

A preliminary report released on Thursday sheds light on the dramatic incident in February where a Delta Air Lines plane, operated by its subsidiary Endeavor Air, landed upside down at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Fox News reports.

The report indicates that a landing gear collapse upon initial contact with the runway was the primary cause of the accident.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s investigation revealed that Flight 4819 descended at a high rate of speed, triggering a safety alarm in the cockpit just seconds before touchdown.

“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 detailed.

Remarkably, all 80 passengers and crew members aboard the flight survived the crash, although dozens sustained injuries.

While multiple investigations into the incident are ongoing, Delta Air Lines has publicly addressed misinformation and “misleading assertions” circulating online regarding the flight crew. The airline emphasized the captain’s extensive experience, highlighting their hiring in October 2007 by Mesaba Airlines and subsequent roles in active duty, pilot training, and safety capacities. Following the merger of Mesaba Airlines with Pinnacle Airlines in 2012, the captain became part of Endeavor Air. Delta reiterated that both the captain and first officer are “qualified and FAA certified for their positions.”

In the wake of the crash, Delta announced a compensation package of $30,000 for each of the 76 passengers and four crew members on board. A spokesperson for the airline confirmed to FOX Business that these payments come with “no strings attached,” allowing recipients to potentially pursue further legal action even after accepting the compensation.