If this thing lives to fly another day, I wonder what nickname it will have. FedEx had a collection of rebuilt airframes, not ok for pax but ok for boxes, and one was an SAS DC-10 that ended up in the drink at EWR after a landing overrun auto-throttle/crew screw up cluster. It was known as the Salty Dog.
This accident reminded me of USAir flight 5050, that ended up in the water at LaGarbage, but that was on takeoff. I always wondered about the wisdom of flying on a flight numbered 5050.
Originally Posted by
N639DL
I wouldn't be surprised if DL just writes this plane off.
N909DL is a 27.7 year old frame, 6th oldest MD-88 left.
I'm not an expert in aircraft maintenance and repair, but what I've seen looks repairable IMO. Looks like:
-Nose damaged
-Front landing gear gone, back landing gear probably damaged too
-Both wings damaged
-Fuel leak
-Probably more things that aren't pointed out in the pictures/videos (tail strike, belly damage)
Not sure if DL would want to spend the money to repair this plane and then have it retire in 3 years if not less.