Delta Defends Pilots After Toronto Flight Crash Sparks Rumors

TORONTO, Canada – Following a plane crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday, Delta Air Lines has taken steps to address misinformation about the flight crew aboard Endeavor Air Flight 4819. All 80 individuals on board, including 76 passengers and four crew members, survived the incident despite the aircraft bursting into flames and flipping upside down during landing.

The captain of Flight 4819 has a long-standing career with the airline, having been hired by Mesaba Airlines in October 2007. He has held positions as an active duty captain as well as in pilot training and safety roles. In a statement released on Thursday, Delta asserted that claims suggesting he failed training events are categorically false.

“Assertions that he failed training events are false. Assertions that he failed to flow into a pilot position due to training failures are also false,” the airline stated. Furthermore, Delta emphasized that both pilots are fully qualified and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for their roles.

The first officer joined Endeavor Air in January 2024, having completed her training by April of the same year. Delta noted that her flying experience also exceeded federal requirements, refuting any claims of failure in her training. “There were no red flags about her pilot skills,” a source familiar with the situation told CBS News.

The plane was making its final approach to Toronto Pearson Airport at approximately 1:15 p.m. CST when the crash occurred. Video footage captured by witnesses showed the aircraft catching fire upon impact before coming to a stop on its back. While no fatalities were reported, 21 passengers suffered injuries, the last of whom was released from the hospital on Thursday.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed gratitude that all those injured have been able to leave the hospital, stating, “The Delta and Endeavor families are grateful that all those injured Monday have been released from the hospital, and we extend our thanks to everyone who provided care to them over the past few days.”

To further assist the victims, Delta announced on Wednesday it would offer $30,000 to each passenger and crew member involved in the crash. A spokesperson for Delta confirmed that the financial assistance comes with no strings attached, allowing those who accept it the option to still pursue legal action if they choose.

The crash remains under investigation by the Canadian Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Preliminary findings will assess factors such as weather conditions and pilot error, with the aircraft’s black box having been recovered to aid in the analysis.

During interviews, Bastian also addressed discussions surrounding aviation safety in light of recent budget cuts under the previous administration. He noted, “I understand that the cuts at this time are something that are raising questions, but the reality is there’s over 50,000 people that work at the FAA. And the cuts, I understand, were 300 people, and they were in non-critical safety functions.”