On Wednesday, Delta Airlines announced it would offer passengers aboard the flight that recently crashed in Toronto a $30,000 cash payment.
On February 17, Delta Flight 4819 crashed while attempting to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Upon hitting the runway, the aircraft, which had arrived from Minneapolis, flipped over before coming to a full stop.
Miraculously, all 76 passengers and four crew members survived the crash landing, and no one suffered life-threatening injuries. However, 21 passengers were taken to hospitals, with all but one released by Wednesday, according to Delta.
Representatives for Delta told the passengers that the offer came with “no strings attached and does not affect rights,” per The New York Times.
Few details have emerged about the incident. However, people took to social media to question whether the incident could have been prompted by the perceived lowering of standards prompted by DEI initiatives.
“Delta’s DEI ad is their pinned post on IG! Maybe it’s time to prioritize safety again, @Delta,” wrote Nick Sortor on X.
Delta’s DEI ad is their pinned post on IG!
Maybe it’s time to prioritize safety again, @Delta
pic.twitter.com/055LEgPbUp— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 18, 2025
Delta is one of many airlines that publicly discloses DEI-related details to investors. This includes items like the gender and racial composition of the company staff. Critics of the policy say it endangers passengers by prioritizing diversity over quality.
Delta’s chief executive Ed Bastian told CBS in an interview on February 19 that an “experienced crew” staffed the flight. However, no additional details were shared.
Rumors have been circulating on social media, claiming the Delta flight was piloted by a novice 26-year-old woman named Kendal Swanson, implying she may have been a DEI-motivated hire. However, the reports have not been substantiated.
“The Delta crash at Toronto Pearson was a DEI hire. How many more lives will be put at risk or lost to terrible hiring practices @Delta?” wrote Richard Cooper on X, an account with over 200,000 followers.
The Delta crash at Toronto Pearson was a DEI hire.
How many more lives will be put at risk or lost to terrible hiring practices @Delta? pic.twitter.com/YqEBG8amMW
— Richard Cooper (@Rich_Cooper) February 20, 2025