Delta Air Lines has responded to online rumors and 'misleading assertions' regarding the crew of Flight 4819, operated by its subsidiary Endeavor Air, which crashed during landing at Toronto Pearson Airport. The airline clarified that the flight's captain was hired in October 2007 by Mesaba Airlines and had a strong record in pilot training and safety roles. Mesaba Airlines later merged with Pinnacle Airlines in 2012, forming Endeavor Air.
Delta refuted claims that the captain had failed training events or missed opportunities to transition to a pilot position at Delta Air Lines due to training issues. The first officer, hired by Endeavor Air in January 2024, completed her training in April and exceeded minimum federal flight experience requirements. Delta emphasized that assertions of training failures for the first officer were also false, confirming that both crew members are qualified and FAA certified for their roles.
Flight 4819 caught fire and flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport, with images of the wreckage circulating widely. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but 21 individuals sustained injuries. Delta reported that all injured passengers had been discharged from the hospital by Thursday.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed gratitude for the care provided to the injured individuals and announced that the airline would offer $30,000 to each of the 76 passengers and four crew members aboard Flight 4819. The payments are unconditional, allowing recipients to pursue legal action if desired.
Bastian addressed concerns about aviation safety in light of budget cuts under the Trump administration, stating that the reductions did not compromise safety. He highlighted that the cuts affected non-critical safety functions and a small fraction of the FAA's workforce, emphasizing the agency's continued commitment to ensuring aviation safety.
