TORONTO, Canada: An initial investigation into last month's dramatic Delta Air Lines crash-landing in Toronto has revealed that the aircraft was descending at a dangerously high rate just seconds before touchdown, according to a preliminary report from the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada.

The February 17 incident saw the Delta jet flip upside down and catch fire after landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport. All 76 passengers and four crew members survived, though 21 people were hospitalized.

According to the TSB report, the plane's ground proximity warning system detected the rapid descent 2.6 seconds before landing. At that moment, the aircraft was traveling at 136 knots (approximately 250 km/h or 155 mph). Upon impact, the landing gear collapsed, causing the wing to detach from the fuselage and releasing a cloud of jet fuel, which ignited as the plane skidded down the runway.

The fuselage then flipped over, and a large portion of the tail broke off, the report stated.

"Accidents and incidents rarely stem from a single cause," said TSB chair Yoan Marier in a video statement. "They're often the result of multiple complex, interconnected factors, many extending beyond the aircraft and its operation to wider systemic issues."

Passengers began evacuating as soon as the aircraft came to a stop, but some suffered injuries after unbuckling their seatbelts and falling onto the ceiling due to the plane's inverted position.

The report noted that the cockpit door was jammed shut, forcing pilots to escape through the emergency hatch in the ceiling after ensuring all passengers had exited. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but moments later, an explosion erupted near the left wing root. Investigators have yet to determine its cause.

So far, no pre-existing mechanical issues with the flight controls have been found, though crash damage has made further assessments necessary. The ongoing investigation will examine multiple factors, including the aircraft's wing structure, pilot training, landing procedures, and the evacuation process.

All injured passengers were discharged from the hospital within days of the crash. Meanwhile, legal action is underway, with at least two lawsuits filed in the United States and a Canadian law firm representing several affected passengers.

Delta declined to comment on the preliminary findings.

"We remain fully engaged as participants in the investigation led by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Out of respect for the integrity of this work that will continue through their final report, Endeavor Air and Delta will refrain from comment," the airline stated.