Delta Air Lines is offering $30,000 to each passenger who survived Monday’s crash-landing in Toronto. The plane, carrying 76 passengers and four crew, skidded on the runway in flames before flipping over. Miraculously, all aboard survived, with only 21 people requiring hospital treatment.
“This payment is an advance to help passengers with immediate expenses,” said Vincent Genova, a lawyer representing some victims. He added that the funds would be deducted from future settlements. The compensation mirrors past incidents, including Asiana Airlines’ $10,000 payout in 2013 and Alaska Airlines’ $1,500 after last year’s door plug failure.
Investigators are probing the cause of the crash, with experts pointing to harsh winter conditions and a steep descent. Delta CEO Ed Bastian lauded the crew for their “heroic but expected” response. “Safety is embedded in our system,” he told CBS. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is leading the inquiry, assisted by US officials.
The crash marks North America’s fourth major air incident in three weeks. Despite this, aviation experts emphasize that flying remains one of the safest modes of transport. US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy reassured the public that there is “no pattern” behind the recent incidents.
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