By Canadian Press

Transportation Safety Board issues preliminary report on Pearson airport plane crash

Mar 20, 2025 | 7:07 AM

TORONTO — A preliminary report into a plane crash at Toronto’s Pearson airport last month says the aircraft’s alert system indicated a high rate of descent less than three seconds before touchdown.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada released its report this morning as it continues to investigate the Feb. 17 crash landing that sent 21 people to hospital.

All 76 passengers and four crew members survived when the Delta Air Lines plane arriving from Minneapolis burst into flames after flipping over and skidding on the tarmac.

The TSB report says that when the plane’s ground proximity warning system sounded 2.6 seconds before touchdown, the airspeed was 136 knots, or approximately 250 kilometres per hour.

It says the plane’s landing gear folded into the retracted position at touchdown and the wing detached from the fuselage, releasing a cloud of jet fuel, which caught fire.

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The TSB says its ongoing investigation is focusing on several key areas, including metallurgical examination of the wing structure, landing techniques, pilot training and the passenger evacuation process.

All of those who were hospitalized were released within days of the crash.

At least two lawsuits have been filed in the United States and a law firm in Canada has said that it’s been retained by several passengers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2025.

The Canadian Press