A Delta Air Lines regional jet's right main landing gear collapsed during landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport, resulting in a fiery incident that left 21 of the 80 people on board injured, two critically.

This incident underscores significant safety concerns in aviation, particularly regarding pilot qualifications and maintenance protocols, as the co-pilot had a special waiver despite limited flying hours. The malfunction that caused the right landing gear to collapse and trigger a fire not only led to injuries—two of which are critical—but also raises alarms about the adequacy of safety checks under challenging weather conditions. An investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada is currently underway to determine the exact circumstances and prevent future occurrences.

The incident occurred as the aircraft was landing amid challenging weather conditions characterized by gusty winds and a high descent rate. Preliminary reports state that the plane began experiencing significant changes in speed and altitude just before touchdown, prompting an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System alert indicating a high rate of descent. These environmental factors likely contributed to the critical moments leading up to the gear collapse.

According to the investigation, the first officer was operating the aircraft and had less than the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) minimum required flying hours. Despite this limitation, the pilot was granted a special waiver that permitted them to fly commercially. This detail has drawn scrutiny as the incident unfolds, raising questions about the criteria for pilot eligibility and the policies governing such exemptions in the aviation industry.

During the landing sequence, the side stay connected to the right main landing gear fractured. This failure retracted the landing gear and subsequently led to the detachment of the wing from the fuselage. In the aftermath of this gear failure, a significant jet fuel fire erupted as the aircraft slid along the runway, posing additional dangers to those on board and emergency responders.

Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke coming from the aircraft shortly after it landed. As the wing detached, it released a cloud of jet fuel that caught fire. In response, emergency crews were deployed immediately to contain the blaze and assist in the evacuation of passengers and crew, which became complicated by the jammed cockpit door.

During the evacuation process, the flight crew was unable to open the cockpit door and had to exit through an emergency hatch, which delayed the overall evacuation effort. Fortunately, all 80 individuals onboard, including 76 passengers and 4 crew members, survived the crash despite the chaotic scene. Rescue efforts managed to transport 21 of the injured to local hospitals, with two individuals reported in serious condition.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has taken charge of the investigation, examining both the flight control systems and the circumstances surrounding the landing. Preliminary findings indicate that there were no preexisting malfunctions or caution messages from the flight data recorder leading up to the incident, suggesting that the gear failure was a sudden and unexpected event.

As this investigation unfolds, there is no timeline yet provided for the release of a final report. The focus remains on understanding the causes of the gear failure and evaluating the operational protocols that allowed the flight to proceed despite the co-pilot’s limited experience. Industry experts are monitoring the situation closely, as the outcome may have implications for regulatory practices and safety standards across commercial aviation.

In the wake of recent aviation incidents, regulators and aviation companies are evaluating the effectiveness of their maintenance checks and pilot training programs. This specific incident serves as a potential case study for assessing the aviation industry's response mechanisms during emergencies and the robustness of safety protocols in adverse weather conditions.