Facing 16 lawsuits for Toronto Pearson airport crash, Delta deflects blame
Delta Air Lines has refuted claims that it bears full responsibility for the injuries sustained during the harrowing upside-down crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport on February 17. The incident, which occurred on Delta Flight 4819 operated by its subsidiary Endeavor Air, resulted in 21 out of the 80 passengers on board being hospitalized. In response, passengers have initiated at least 16 separate lawsuits in U.S. federal court, seeking damages that have not been specified.
Among the passengers affected by the crash are 16 Canadians who have filed civil cases in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, alleging that their injuries were a direct result of Delta and Endeavor’s negligence. In a recent court filing, the companies’ attorney, Michael G. McQuillen, disputed these claims, stating that the fault does not lie solely with Delta and its subsidiary.
McQuillen hinted at the possibility of more lawsuits being filed in connection with the crash, potentially involving over 70 plaintiffs. In an attempt to consolidate all the lawsuits, including those from passengers in other states, the filing sought to have the cases heard in federal court in Minnesota.
Following the initial wave of lawsuits, additional complaints have been lodged by passengers affected by the Toronto crash. Five new cases were filed this week, including one on behalf of a Canadian woman and a minor identified only as “G.O.G.” These plaintiffs have alleged severe bodily and mental injuries, as well as economic losses as a result of the crash.
The lawsuits cite “gross negligence and recklessness” on the part of the crew members, whom they claim were inadequately trained and supervised by Delta and Endeavor. The aircraft involved in the crash was a CRJ-900 operated by Endeavor, manufactured by Canadian company Bombardier.
The aftermath of the crash saw dark smoke billowing from the fuselage, with social media images capturing the chaos as passengers found themselves hanging upside down after the aircraft flipped over on the snowy runway. Delta later announced its intention to provide $30,000 US to each passenger on the flight, without any conditions attached.
Investigations conducted by Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB) revealed that a warning system on the plane had signaled a “high rate of descent” less than three seconds before landing. Additionally, the pitch attitude of the aircraft was below the recommended range at the moment of touchdown. The TSB emphasized that it is premature to draw conclusions about the causes of the crash and assured that a detailed investigation report will follow in due course.
The allegations presented in the lawsuits have yet to undergo legal scrutiny. Both Delta and the law firm representing the plaintiffs, Bryan L. Bleichner and Christopher P. Renz, have refrained from commenting on the matter. One of the passengers involved in the crash, Clayton Bouffard, expressed gratitude for the survival of all 80 individuals on board, despite continuing to experience physical discomfort and sleep disturbances in the aftermath of the incident.
