A
Adler
Guest
ROMULUS, Mich. (WXYZ) - What happened to Endeavor Air flight 3443? The regional jet was leaving Detroit for Chicago when it slammed into the side of McNamara terminal after backing from the gate. The left tail wing was damaged.
The airline, which is a subsidiary of Delta, says the plane was already dislodged from the pushback vehicle and was backing on its own, likely with an assist from a member of the ground crew.
While Delta says who caused the incident is still under investigation, the mistake likely lies with either the flight crew or the ground crew.
Avoiding the incident, aviation expert C. William Kauffman says, was likely, "Just having enough talent on the scene to watch out for the things that were around the aircraft."
Earlier this year, the 7 Investigators uncovered an alarming trend at Metro. Increased congestion on the tarmac, resulting in an increase in near collisions on the ground.
Todays incident certainly raising the question---were safeguards rushed.
The incident also brings to light long standing concerns by the FAA over the qualifications of the flight crews on subsidiary airlines like Endeavor.
"When you fly an airline, you think your flying a guy who's name is on the side, but that's often not the case," says Kauffman. "You end up with crews that are not as well trained and not as well paid."
When pressed. Delta told us Endeavor's pilot training exceeds FAA standards. But they reiterated, they are a wholly owned subsidiary, when asked if their experience matches Delta's own pilots.
The 7 Investigators dug into the airline's accident record. What we found? A history of similar on the ground incidents, surprisingly, at Michigan airports.
While operating under its former name, Pinnacle Airlines, one of its jets collided with a luggage truck on the tarmac at Metro.
And the year before, a Pinnacle plane overran the runway at the Traverse City airport. Pilot error to blame.
And just last year, another one of its planes slid off the taxiway in New York.
Metro Airport says they have had vehicles hit buildings, but no planes hit the terminal in recent memory.
The FAA is now investigating, 7 Action News has learned. Sources also say, security footage from the tarmac will likely be key in determining who was at fault.
Delta also saying, the crew involved, did not fly those passengers on to Chicago.
http://www.wxyz.com/news/plane-backs-into-wall-at-detroit-metro-airport
The airline, which is a subsidiary of Delta, says the plane was already dislodged from the pushback vehicle and was backing on its own, likely with an assist from a member of the ground crew.
While Delta says who caused the incident is still under investigation, the mistake likely lies with either the flight crew or the ground crew.
Avoiding the incident, aviation expert C. William Kauffman says, was likely, "Just having enough talent on the scene to watch out for the things that were around the aircraft."
Earlier this year, the 7 Investigators uncovered an alarming trend at Metro. Increased congestion on the tarmac, resulting in an increase in near collisions on the ground.
Todays incident certainly raising the question---were safeguards rushed.
The incident also brings to light long standing concerns by the FAA over the qualifications of the flight crews on subsidiary airlines like Endeavor.
"When you fly an airline, you think your flying a guy who's name is on the side, but that's often not the case," says Kauffman. "You end up with crews that are not as well trained and not as well paid."
When pressed. Delta told us Endeavor's pilot training exceeds FAA standards. But they reiterated, they are a wholly owned subsidiary, when asked if their experience matches Delta's own pilots.
The 7 Investigators dug into the airline's accident record. What we found? A history of similar on the ground incidents, surprisingly, at Michigan airports.
While operating under its former name, Pinnacle Airlines, one of its jets collided with a luggage truck on the tarmac at Metro.
And the year before, a Pinnacle plane overran the runway at the Traverse City airport. Pilot error to blame.
And just last year, another one of its planes slid off the taxiway in New York.
Metro Airport says they have had vehicles hit buildings, but no planes hit the terminal in recent memory.
The FAA is now investigating, 7 Action News has learned. Sources also say, security footage from the tarmac will likely be key in determining who was at fault.
Delta also saying, the crew involved, did not fly those passengers on to Chicago.
http://www.wxyz.com/news/plane-backs-into-wall-at-detroit-metro-airport
