Toronto Plane Crash Survivors to Receive US$30,000 Each
Delta Air Lines has announced it will grant US$30,000 (£23,792) to each survivor of a plane crash that occurred in Toronto this Monday. The plane, which was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members, skidded on the runway, caught fire, flipped over, and came to rest upside down. Despite the dramatic circumstances, all on board survived, with many walking away without any injuries.
The cause of the crash is yet to be determined as investigations are ongoing. The flight had originated from Minneapolis in the United States before the incident in Toronto.
Delta representatives clarified that the compensation offer has no conditions attached and wouldn't impact customers' rights. Some crash survivors and their families have engaged Toronto law firm Rochon Genova in relation to the incident.
Vincent Genova, an attorney at the firm, stated that his clients have experienced serious injuries necessitating hospital care and anticipate a "prompt and fair resolution". He noted that the $30,000 payment is an "advance" to help crash survivors with immediate financial needs and that this amount would be deducted from any subsequent settled claims.
This isn't the first instance of such payouts. In 2013, Asiana Airlines provided $10,000 as initial compensation to passengers of a plane crash in San Francisco. Last year, Alaska Airlines offered $1,500 to passengers following a mid-air door-plug mishap on a Portland flight.
Following the Toronto crash, quick and effective response from the plane crew and emergency teams was applauded, aiding in the safe evacuation of passengers from the wreckage. The plane's safety features have also been acknowledged, instrumental in there being no fatalities.
By Thursday morning, all 21 hospitalized passengers had been discharged. Delta's CEO, Ed Bastian, affirmed the seasoned flight crew's preparedness for all conditions, and noted the airline's ongoing support for those affected.
Multiple theories about the cause of the crash have surfaced, including severe winter weather and a rapid descent rate. Passenger recounts included descriptions of a "forceful event" and the noise of "concrete and metal" upon impact. Some passengers described being left hanging upside down "like bats".
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been retrieved from the crash site. Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB), with support from US officials, is leading the investigation.
The wreckage was cleared from the airport runway on Wednesday evening. This incident marked the fourth significant air incident in North America within three weeks, followed by an Arizona crash where two people died after their small planes collided.
Despite these incidents, experts maintain that air travel remains significantly safer than other modes of transportation. This viewpoint was echoed by US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, who stated that these incidents are "very unique" and do not indicate a pattern.