Toronto
Who decides when it's safe for flights to operate during bad weather conditions?
While airports have control over operations, the ultimate decision about flight safety during adverse weather conditions is determined by pilots and airlines. As former NTSB Air Safety Investigator Gregory Feith explains, even if an airport is attempting to catch up on delayed flights, it's the airlines and pilots who evaluate whether it is safe to operate at that airport. This assessment process creates a dual responsibility system where airports manage the operational aspects while flight crews make the final safety determinations based on their professional judgment of weather conditions and aircraft capabilities.
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CBS News
26:55 - 27:25
What extreme weather conditions did Toronto Pearson Airport face recently?
From Thursday to Sunday, Toronto Pearson Airport experienced extreme weather conditions with two separate snowstorms occurring on Thursday and Sunday. These severe weather events resulted in more than 20 inches (50 centimeters) of accumulated snow at the airport. The consecutive snowstorms created significant operational challenges for the airport, leading to hundreds of canceled flights as mentioned in the description.
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CBS News
03:33 - 03:47
How did the crew of Delta Flight 4819 respond to their aircraft overturning on the runway?
The crew of Delta Flight 4819 responded heroically when their aircraft overturned on landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport. According to Toronto Pearson CEO Deborah Flint, the crew led passengers to safety by successfully evacuating the jet despite challenging conditions that included smoke and fire on the runway. Flint specifically praised these crew members as heroes, acknowledging each flight attendant and crew member's role in the emergency response. Their professional actions amid extremely dangerous circumstances ensured passenger safety following what could have been a catastrophic incident.
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CBS News
01:20 - 01:42
What is the status of the investigation into the Delta Airlines Flight 4819 accident at Toronto Pearson Airport?
The investigation into the Delta Flight 4819 accident has officially begun. Seven members of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada arrived at Toronto Pearson Airport the previous night to commence their investigation. The airport is transitioning into this investigation phase following the incident, which resulted in injuries to 21 passengers but thankfully no fatalities. CEO Deborah Flint provided this update as part of a broader briefing on the accident response, indicating that the investigation will continue over the coming days. The Transportation Safety Board will be leading efforts to determine what caused the incident.
Watch clip answer (00:14m)CBS News
04:52 - 05:07
Is flying still safe despite recent aircraft incidents?
Despite the recent Delta flight incident in Toronto and other high-profile aircraft incidents this year, experts unanimously confirm that commercial flying remains the safest mode of transportation. Every aviation specialist consulted emphasized this point unequivocally, with even the CEO making 'no bones about it.' While these incidents naturally create anxiety among travelers, the statistical and empirical evidence overwhelmingly supports the safety of air travel. Commercial flying continues to maintain its excellent safety record, regardless of the headlines these rare incidents generate in recent weeks.
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CBS News
04:53 - 05:50
What happened to the Delta flight at Toronto International Airport?
A Delta flight from Minneapolis flipped upside down while landing at Toronto International Airport yesterday afternoon. The plane ended up on its back in what appears to be a rare and shocking aviation incident. Officials in Canada have launched an investigation to determine the cause of this unusual accident. Despite the severity of the incident, all 80 people aboard the aircraft survived, marking a remarkable outcome given the circumstances.
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CBS News
00:42 - 01:08