Delta Air Lines is offering $30,000 in compensation to each passenger aboard the flight that crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week. A company spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that the payout comes with “no strings attached” and will not affect passengers’ legal rights.
The Delta Flight 4819, operated by subsidiary Endeavor Air, was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members when it made a hard landing at Pearson on Monday. Video footage shows the aircraft tipping over, its wing scraping the ground before bursting into flames and coming to a stop in a cloud of smoke. Passengers scrambled to evacuate as emergency crews rushed to the scene.
Investigators are still working to determine what caused the crash. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) confirmed Wednesday that the aircraft’s black box has been recovered and that the wreckage will be moved to a hangar for further examination. Officials will also inspect the runway before reopening it.
Two of Pearson’s five runways—including Canada’s busiest—remain closed, contributing to flight cancellations and delays. Sunwing Airlines alone canceled 13 departures on Wednesday, prioritizing the return of stranded passengers.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian praised the swift response of first responders and reassured travelers that air travel remains the safest mode of transportation. He emphasized that pilots regularly train for emergency scenarios like Monday’s crash.
Though 21 passengers were hospitalized, all but one had been discharged by Wednesday morning. Some passengers, however, are now seeking legal action. A Toronto-based aviation law firm confirmed it is representing two Canadian passengers who sustained injuries, including one with a possible head injury. The firm is also collaborating with U.S. lawyers representing American passengers.
Experts speculate that gusty winds and possible landing gear failure may have played a role in the crash, but the TSB has cautioned that it is too early to draw conclusions.
For now, as crews work to clear the wreckage and restore operations, delays at Pearson Airport are expected to continue.