Delta airlines’ flight crash-lands and overturns at Toronto airport: Experts weigh in

A Delta jet with 80 people onboard flipped on landing at Toronto airport on Monday. Of the 80 people onboard, 18 were injured, but no deaths were reported. Delta confirmed all passengers were evacuated.

Experts said the aircraft's size, seatbelts and engineering helped protect passengers.

This crash adds to growing concerns about aviation safety.

Experts on the Delta flight flipping before landing

Mike McCormick, an expert at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said it’s rare for an aircraft to flip, but they’re designed to survive it. The wings and tail are designed to separate during a flip, he said. The seats can withstand impacts of up to 16 times gravity, so they’ll stay in place even if the plane is upside down.

In a statement to USA TODAY, McCormick said the reason passengers are asked to buckle up on take-off and landing is because "the seats are designed to keep you strapped in.” The swift evacuation by the cabin crew demonstrates their training, he added.

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Flight attendants are usually busy serving drinks, but this is the kind of emergency where their expertise comes into play, McCormick said. And despite some high-profile crashes this year, he said we are in the safest era of aviation.

Plane's small size helped soften the impact

Arnold Barnett, an aviation safety expert, was surprised by the plane flipping over. He said the small size of the plane and seatbelts likely helped reduce injuries.

It would be “very disturbing” but wouldn’t necessarily lead to serious injuries, Barnett said. The cabin of the CRJ900 jet is about six-feet tall. So, passengers wouldn’t have far to fall when the plane flipped.

Fire risk prompted speedy evacuations

Najm Meshkati, an aviation safety expert, said the main concern in any land-based plane crash is the risk of fire. The fire risk on Monday likely led to quick evacuations.

Hassan Shahidi, CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, praised the first responders at the airport.

Takeaway from the crash

Mike Shertz, an emergency room physician in Oregon, stressed the importance of fastening seatbelts and making it snug while flying. In the event of a sudden stop, even a couple of inches could make the difference between hitting something in front.

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Shertz advised thinking about where you’ll fall before releasing your seatbelt. The ceiling, not the floor, is likely to be full of debris. If you are by the window, you might fall into the overhead compartment, while if you're by the aisle, you may fall further.

FAQS:

1. What caused the Delta flight to crash at the Toronto airport?
The cause of the incident remains unclear. Analysts suggest that weather could have been a factor, or that the aircraft may have struck something.


2. What time did the incident take place?
The incident occurred just before 15:00 local time on Monday (20:00 GMT).