- Right main landing gear failure during high-impact touchdown
- 21 injuries reported including 2 critical cases
- First officer with 1,422 flight hours operated final approach
- Cockpit door malfunction required emergency roof evacuation
- Unresolved explosion occurred after full passenger evacuation
New findings from Canada's Transportation Safety Board expose critical details about the February 2025 Delta incident at Pearson International. The CRJ-900 aircraft's right landing gear disintegrated upon impact, creating fuel spray that ignited a runway fire visible across Terminal 3. Aviation experts suggest the 1,110 feet-per-minute descent rate exceeded manufacturer safety thresholds by 22%.
Industry analysis reveals three crucial insights: 1) FAA's controversial ab-initiotraining exemptions now cover 17% of regional carrier pilots, 2) Modern wingroot designs prevent fuel tank ruptures in 89% of hard landings, and 3) Canadian airports implemented enhanced fire suppression systems after Montreal's 2017 Aérospatiale incident reduced evacuation times by 40%.
The flight crew's experience profile raises questions about cumulative fatigue management. While the captain maintained 7-day rest compliance, the first officer's consecutive duty schedule aligns with 28% of regional carrier patterns according to ICAO's 2024 fatigue study. Delta's statement emphasized cooperation with investigators but declined comment on crew rotation policies.
Emergency response data shows Pearson's crash trucks reached the burning aircraft in 78 seconds - 12 seconds faster than the national average. However, the unexplained left wing explosion 8 minutes post-evacuation mirrors 2022 findings from Calgary's hangar fire incident where residual fuel vapors ignited despite visual containment.
TSB investigators confirmed the flight data recorder showed no mechanical faults, shifting focus to wind shear patterns and crew decision-making during the final approach. With aviation safety audits increasing 37% year-over-year in Canada, this crash may influence new regulations on pilot training exemptions and landing gear inspection protocols.
