Delta Air Lines is offering $30,000 to the passengers who were forced to climb out of a burning plane after it flipped over and caught fire as it attempted to touch down at Pearson Toronto International Airport earlier this week.
In total, 80 people — 76 passengers and four crew members — were aboard Delta Flight 4819 when it took off from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport on Monday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Operated by Endeavor Air, the Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR seemed to struggle as it closed in on its destination, skidding across the ground and bursting into flames before rolling onto its roof.
Everyone aboard survived the crash, though more than a dozen were hospitalized. None of their injuries are believed to be life-threatening, according to airline officials.
Should all 76 passengers accept the $30,000, Delta will have to shell out nearly $2.3 million. What’s more, those who take the money will still be allowed to take the airline to court over incident.
“Delta Care Team representatives are telling customers this gesture has no strings attached and does not affect rights,” a spokesperson for the airline told USA TODAY in an email.
As of Thursday morning, it’s still unclear what exactly caused the chaos in Toronto earlier this week. It is currently under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, with investigators from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration on site to assist, according to Pearson Airport CEO Deborah Flint.
It also marked just one in a series of major aviation disaster in North America in recent weeks.
On Feb. 6, a small commuter plane crashed in western Alaska, killing all 10 people onboard. A week prior, a medical transportation plane crashed in Philadelphia, killing the six people onboard and another person on the ground. And on Jan. 29, a commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., leaving 67 people dead.
Another two people were killed Thursday after a pair of small planes collided over Arizona.
With News Wire Services
