NEW YORK — As the National Transportation Safety Board begins its investigation into a Delta jetliner that slid off a runway while landing during a snowstorm at LaGuardia Airport, there is no shortage of questions to pursue:
Was the runway too slippery? Could it have been a mechanical problem? Did the pilot come in too fast?
Thursday’s accident of Flight 1086 from Atlanta caused only minor injuries to six passengers, but it was a scary case of what could have been. The plane came to rest just feet from the icy waters of Flushing Bay.
The NTSB findings could offer lessons for one of the most dangerous aspect of air travel. A study by Boeing found nearly half of fatal commercial jet accidents between 2004 and 2013 occurred during final approach and landing.
