Delta Air Lines is providing $30,000 (£23,792) to each passenger who was aboard a flight that crash-landed in Toronto on Monday. Remarkably, everyone on board survived.
Upon landing, the aircraft slid across the runway engulfed in flames before overturning and coming to a stop upside down. Many passengers expressed disbelief that the majority walked away with little to no injuries.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.
The flight, which originated in Minneapolis, was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members when it was forced into the emergency landing.
A Delta spokesperson stated that the compensation comes with no conditions and does not impact passengers’ legal rights.
Toronto-based law firm Rochon Genova is representing some passengers and their families in response to the crash landing.
Attorney Vincent Genova emphasised that his clients suffered “serious personal injuries requiring hospital care” and are seeking a “fair and timely resolution.”
In a statement to the BBC, Genova explained that the $30,000 payout is an “advance” designed to provide immediate financial relief for those affected. However, the airline may later deduct this sum from any final settlements.
This type of initial compensation has precedent. Asiana Airlines made a similar offer of $10,000 to passengers following a San Francisco plane crash in 2013. More recently, in 2024, Alaska Airlines provided $1,500 per passenger after a door plug failure mid-flight.
The plane’s crew and emergency personnel have been praised for their swift action in evacuating everyone safely. Additionally, the aircraft’s safety mechanisms have been credited with preventing fatalities.
According to Delta, all 21 passengers who were hospitalised had been discharged by Thursday morning.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian told CBS News that the crew responded with professionalism and skill, adding that “safety is deeply embedded in our system.”
Experts analysing the crash’s footage have proposed several possible causes, including severe winter weather and a rapid descent.
One traveller described the impact as “extremely forceful,” with the sound of “concrete and metal” colliding. Another traveler described the sensation of being upside down in their seat, likening it to “hanging like bats.”
Authorities have retrieved both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder from the wreckage. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), along with US officials, is leading the investigation.
On Wednesday night, crews removed the damaged aircraft from the runway.
This accident marks the fourth major air incident in North America in just three weeks. On Wednesday, another crash occurred in Arizona when two small aircraft collided, resulting in two fatalities.
Despite recent events, aviation experts continue to stress that flying remains one of the safest forms of transportation.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reassured the public, telling CBS News that each incident was “unique” and did not indicate an alarming trend.
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