Retired Airline Captain Blames Pilot Error for Delta Crash

A Delta Air Lines plane crash-landed in Toronto on Monday, flipping upside down and bursting into flames. While initial speculation pointed to bad weather, a retired Delta captain insists that human error, not weather, caused the frightening incident.

The CRJ900, operated by Endeavor Air a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines departed from Minneapolis with 76 passengers and four crew members on board. Video footage shows the plane approaching Toronto Pearson International Airport at an unusual angle before its right wing struck the ground, causing it to flip and skid down the runway. Miraculously, all passengers survived, though 21 required medical attention, with two still hospitalized.

Toronto had recently been hit by two snowstorms, dumping around 20 inches of snow. However, Toronto Pearson Fire Chief Todd Aitken confirmed that the runway was dry at the time of the crash, and no significant crosswind conditions were present. Crosswinds were estimated between 29 and 38 mph but were not considered strong enough to cause the accident.

A retired Delta captain, speaking anonymously, dismissed weather as a cause. “Any pilot should be able to handle that. It’s no big deal,” he stated. He explained that the wind was about 40 degrees from center, resulting in a crosswind component of roughly 20 knots and a headwind of about 23 knots well within safe landing limits.

The retired captain pointed to pilot error, specifically the failure to “flare” properly before touchdown. Flaring is a technique that reduces the rate of descent, allowing for a gentle landing. In this case, the plane was “coming down at a pretty good clip,” suggesting that the pilot didn’t sufficiently decrease the rate of descent.

The impact was so severe that the right main landing gear snapped off, causing the plane to flip. “I hate to say it,” the veteran pilot concluded, “This is pilot error.”

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is leading the investigation, with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board assisting. They will examine all factors, including mechanical issues and pilot performance, before releasing an official report.

This crash raises serious questions about pilot training and safety protocols. As the investigation continues, the findings could have far-reaching implications for aviation safety standards.

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