The February 3, 2023, derailment of a Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) train could have been avoided, the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board said at a press conference Thursday.

“I can tell you this much: This was 100% preventable,” Jennifer Homendy said, while also apologizing to the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, where the derailment occurred. Residents have been concerned about the area’s air and water quality because some of the derailed rail cars released vinyl chloride into the environment when NS performed a controlled venting of those cars. Vinyl chloride is a chemical substance used in plastics production.

“We call things accidents. There is no accident. Every single event that we investigate is preventable. … Know that the NTSB has one goal, and that is safety and ensuring that this never happens again,” she continued.

www.freightwaves.com —NTSB Chair Says NS Train Derailment was '100%' Preventable