NTSB to discuss cause of fiery Ohio freight train wreck

Residents of an eastern Ohio village will learn more about the fiery wreck of a Norfolk Southern freight train last year that derailed their lives as another hearing gets underway on Tuesday in their hometown, with the National Transportation Safety Board set to discuss the ongoing investigation and issue recommendations for averting future disasters.

Dozens of freight cars derailed on February 3, 2023, on the outskirts of East Palestine near the Pennsylvania border, including 11 carrying hazardous materials. Residents evacuated as fears grew about a potential explosion, and officials intentionally released and burned toxic vinyl chloride from five rail cars, sending flames and black smoke into the air despite the potential health effects.

The NTSB said early on that an overheated bearing on one of the railcars, which was not detected in time by trackside sensors likely caused the crash. Investigative hearings have since highlighted other possible contributors, including widespread rail job cuts and rushed inspections. Investigators also delved into why officials chose to deliberately blow open the vinyl chloride cars and burn that key ingredient for making PVC pipes.

A key point on Tuesday will be the expected release of NTSB recommendations for safety improvements. After the derailment, all the major freight railroads pledged work to improve safety, but so far, the industry's efforts haven't resulted in a significant boost in its safety record in the Federal Railroad Administration statistics.

Earlier this year, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told U.S. Congress that the agency's investigation had determined that the controversial vent-and-burn operation that prompted evacuations and sent a huge plume of black smoke over the small town wasn't necessary.

But Ohio's governor, first responders and the hazardous materials experts who made that decision have said the information they had that day made them believe an explosion was likely imminent, making the burn their best option despite the risks of unleashing cancer-causing dioxins in the area.