The pilot of the plane that crashed in Toronto was a 26-year-old woman who had only been cleared to fly a month ago.

[Diogenes]

How many folks here know that these planes land themselves nowadays? Raise your hand!

Autopilot is commonly used during the cruise phase of flight—about 90% of the time on such routes, according to aviation expert Greg Feith in a discussion with Megyn Kelly.

However, for takeoffs and landings, especially on a regional jet like the Mitsubishi CRJ-900 involved in this crash, manual control by pilots is typical. Feith noted that “typically, in this type of airplane, takeoffs and landings are done by one of the two pilots manually. You’re not using an autopilot,” though some navigation guidance might assist.

This aligns with industry norms, as landings often require human judgment, particularly in challenging conditions like the strong winds (gusting up to 38-40 mph) and blowing snow reported that day.

Video evidence of the crash shows the plane landing hard, with no apparent “flare”—the nose-up maneuver pilots perform to slow descent—before the rear landing gear buckled, the right wing sheared off, and the aircraft flipped.

Aviation analyst Mary Schiavo pointed out this lack of flare, suggesting it could indicate a pilot error, mechanical issue, or environmental factor overriding control, but she didn’t specify autopilot involvement.

If autopilot were engaged too late into the approach, a late disengagement could complicate manual recovery, though this is speculative without data.


@Grok

 

[Damocles]

Autopilot is commonly used during the cruise phase of flight—about 90% of the time on such routes, according to aviation expert Greg Feith in a discussion with Megyn Kelly.

However, for takeoffs and landings, especially on a regional jet like the Mitsubishi CRJ-900 involved in this crash, manual control by pilots is typical. Feith noted that “typically, in this type of airplane, takeoffs and landings are done by one of the two pilots manually. You’re not using an autopilot,” though some navigation guidance might assist.

This aligns with industry norms, as landings often require human judgment, particularly in challenging conditions like the strong winds (gusting up to 38-40 mph) and blowing snow reported that day.

Video evidence of the crash shows the plane landing hard, with no apparent “flare”—the nose-up maneuver pilots perform to slow descent—before the rear landing gear buckled, the right wing sheared off, and the aircraft flipped.

Aviation analyst Mary Schiavo pointed out this lack of flare, suggesting it could indicate a pilot error, mechanical issue, or environmental factor overriding control, but she didn’t specify autopilot involvement.

If autopilot were engaged too late into the approach, a late disengagement could complicate manual recovery, though this is speculative without data.


@Grok

ILS exist... even in that plane.

Not only that the pilot they talk about here had more than 1500 hours and was certified. I think we should wait a bit before deciding it was all "her" fault. Maybe even wait until we are sure she was the pilot.

 

[Diogenes]

ILS exist... even in that plane.

We'll have to wait for the results of the Canadian investigation.

Not only that the pilot they talk about here had more than 1500 hours and was certified.

She may not have even been flying. It is odd that the polit and FO haven't been identified, yet, I h=guess, but speculation seems counterproductive at this point.

I think we should wait a bit before deciding it was all "her" fault. Maybe even wait until we are sure she was the pilot.

That's what I keep telling them. It's like herding cats. They'd rather argue with each other over something that nobody even knows, apparently.

 

[Callinectes]

Speaking as a pilot with over 10,000 hours of flight experience, (Microsoft Flight Simulator), I can say after viewing the available videos of the landing, the approach was very fast, and there was no flare just before touchdown. I didn't see the flaps in the down position, but it may have just been too far away.

I will make my findings available to the Canadian authorities upon request.

 

[Hawkeye10]

This is old news to me, BUT, I wonder why we are told that the woman was flying....what the basis for that is.

Whoever was flying was in over their heads, so presumably it was her, but I need that nailed down.

 

[Hawkeye10]

Speaking as a pilot with over 10,000 hours of flight experience, (Microsoft Flight Simulator), I can say after viewing the available videos of the landing, the approach was very fast, and there was no flare just before touchdown. I didn't see the flaps in the down position, but it may have just been too far away.

I will make my findings available to the Canadian authorities upon request.

That the wings were not leveled at the last minute as they needed to be, were not level because they were dealing with a somewhat nasty cross wind is correct, correct?

 

[Diogenes]

ILS exist... even in that plane.

Though the CRJ-900’s automation has limitations compared to larger jets (e.g., it doesn’t fully automate airspeed control during flight), its ILS capability is robust. Pilots can arm the approach mode, and once capture conditions are met, the system activates the localizer and glideslope guidance, though manual adjustments may still be required depending on the situation. This makes the CRJ-900 well-suited for regional operations where precise landings at smaller or weather-challenged airports are common.


@Grok

 

[countryboy]

There seems to be a large chasm between reality and what you believe. (It's like we could call that chasm - The Gulf of America)

CBS News learned the first officer graduated from a university with an accredited and well-respected aviation program, and so was able to start working with fewer than 1,500 hours under a Restricted Air Transport Pilot certificate. She crossed the 1,500-hour mark and earned her full ATP certificate in January 2023, which is the highest-level pilot certification in the U.S., before completing training last April, and has been flying for Endeavor since then.

Okay, fair enough. Yet she's still miffed The landing. Evidently flight hours alone are not enough.

 

[countryboy]

Solid work there. I appreciate the creativity.

Thanks!

 

[Callinectes]

That the wings were not leveled at the last minute as they needed to be, were not level because they were dealing with a somewhat nasty cross wind is correct, correct?

If you search "crosswind landings" on you tube, you'll find many including this:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4EQuM_t8Fo&pp=ygUSY3Jvc3Mgd2luZCBsYW5kaW5n


These are extreme, I heard that she was dealing with 13 with gusts to 23 mph crosswinds which were more akin to cross breezes. And the wings don't have to be "level", but it would help.

This is how it's done. Notice how the nose flares up just before the main landing gear touches down? It slows the plane and allows a gentler landing that's also easier on the landing gear.

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/0Z7LYsIuqsc?si=N9i_acjrH5ZbxMA-

 

[Hawkeye10]

If you search "crosswind landings" on you tube, you'll find many including this:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4EQuM_t8Fo&pp=ygUSY3Jvc3Mgd2luZCBsYW5kaW5n


These are extreme, I heard that she was dealing with 13 with gusts to 23 mph crosswinds which were more akin to cross breezes. And the wings don't have to be "level", but it would help.

This is how it's done. Notice how the nose flares up just before the main landing gear touches down? It slows the plane and allows a gentler landing that's also easier on the landing gear.

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/0Z7LYsIuqsc?si=N9i_acjrH5ZbxMA-

I heard two pilots saying that the wings on this plane are rather low to the ground, that leveling out was mandatory.....especially when hitting the runway that hard I think....remember that most modern wings have a lot of flex.