Delta Air Lines is offering a generous US$30,000 (£23,792) to each survivor of the plane crash that occurred in Toronto on Monday.
All 76 passengers and four crew members on the flight from Minneapolis to Canada managed to escape without sustaining injuries.
As the plane descended into the Canadian city, it skidded along the runway in flames before flipping over and coming to a halt upside down. Passengers recounted their astonishment, amazed that most of them walked away unscathed.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation, but experts have suggested that harsh winter weather and a rapid rate of descent may have played a role. One passenger described a “very forceful event” and the sound of “concrete and metal” at the moment of impact. Another passenger recalled being left hanging upside down in their seat, likening it to being “like bats.”
The plane crew and emergency responders have been widely praised for their swift and effective efforts in evacuating the passengers from the wrecked aircraft. The plane’s safety features have also been credited with preventing any loss of life.
By Wednesday morning, all but one of the 21 passengers who were hospitalized had been discharged. Delta’s chief executive, Ed Bastian, expressed his gratitude to the flight crew, stating that they were experienced and well-trained to handle any situation. He emphasized that safety is an integral part of Delta’s system and that the airline is committed to providing support to those affected by the incident.
Several theories have emerged regarding the cause of the crash, with experts analyzing footage to determine the factors that may have contributed to the accident.
The fourth major air incident in North America within three weeks occurred on Wednesday, following a crash in Arizona that claimed the lives of two individuals when their small planes collided. Despite these incidents, experts remain steadfast in their belief that air travel is overwhelmingly safe, surpassing other forms of transportation in terms of safety. This sentiment was underscored by US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, who emphasized that there was no discernible pattern behind these incidents, each of which he described as “very unique.”
