Delta Air Lines has offered to pay passengers on board the regional flight that crashed and flipped in Toronto $30,000 (£23,800) each in compensation with “no strings attached”.
On Monday (17 February), flight 4819 slammed into the tarmac and onto its roof while attempting to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport, injuring 21 passengers, including one child.
Passengers were left dangling from the cabin, “upside-down, hanging from our seat belts”.
Pete Koukov told the Today show on Tuesday: “The wheels touched down and then all of a sudden … I just remember being fully sideways.”
Delta spokesperson Morgan Durrant confirmed in an email on Wednesday (19 February) that the unconditional $30,000 payment comes with “no strings attached and does not affect rights” or impact any legal claims.
The flight from Minneapolis, Minnesota, operated by Delta subsidiary Endeavor Air, made the calamitous landing around 2.45pm.
All 80 people onboard – 76 passengers and four crew members – were evacuated from the aircraft, said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Twenty-one passengers were transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
As of Wednesday, all but one of the hospitalised passengers have been discharged.
If all 76 passengers accept the compensation offer, the airline will pay almost $2.3m (£1.8m) in compensation.
Footage from the aftermath of the crash shows the overturned Bombardier CRJ-900 jet upside down on the runway, with snow seen on the ground.
Social media users have called the $30,000 payment “crazy” and said the sum is “missing at least three zeros”.
“This is CRAZY! The LEAST they could do is $200,000,” said a reply on X/Twitter.
One user wrote: “Delta is only offering $30,000 per passenger to those almost killed on the Toronto flight. I hate regulation and government oversight, but the airline industry is abusive to its customers.”
Another shocked commenter added: “30K for a flight that FLIPPED OVER when u almost had me on a one-way flight to heaven???”
Several advised passengers “do not accept the money”.
“If you are on a plane that flips upside down, and the airline offers you $30,000 THE NEXT DAY, hire a lawyer and do not accept the money!!!!!!!!!”, said one tweet.
The aircraft was flying in the wake of a snowstorm…
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