Delta Offers Crash Victims $30K Compensation, No Strings Attached

On Monday, we saw a shocking accident, whereby a Delta Connection CRJ-900 crashed while landing at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), losing a wing on landing, and then flipping over. While the most important thing is that everyone survived the crash, it’s interesting to note what the airline is doing for passengers in the aftermath of this incident.

Delta offers all 76 passengers $30K compensation

Just two days after the accident, Delta has offered the 76 passengers onboard initial compensation of $30,000 each. Across 76 people, that represents a payment of $2.28 million.

It’s worth noting that this is a “no strings attached” offer, so it doesn’t preclude passengers from pursuing legal action related to this, or anything else (and you can bet there will be some lawsuits, regardless of what an investigation determines).

That seems like a fair initial gesture, especially since some people may have expenses resulting from items that were lost during the accident.

Speaking of items lost during the accident, the airline is starting the process of reuniting customers with their bags and personal belongings, as authorities remove items from the aircraft. The airline states that “securing, identifying, sorting and cleaning all belongings left onboard could take a matter of weeks before all items can be safely returned.”

In an evacuation, you’re of course supposed to leave all carry-on items behind. While we saw some passengers take their belongings, plenty of people didn’t, and then there are of course checked bags as well. I imagine some items won’t be returnable, due to damage.

Delta CEO does interview with CBS Mornings

Two days after the accident, Delta CEO Ed Bastian appeared on CBS Mornings, to provide some comments on the accident, and answer some questions. I don’t think there’s anything shocking here, though to summarize a few of his key points:

• He expressed his deep appreciation and thanks for the crew onboard, and said they “performed heroically, and as expected”
• He couldn’t provide any additional details about what may have happened, since it’s an ongoing investigation
• He couldn’t say how experienced the pilots were, but said “it was an experienced crew,” and “there’s one level of safety at Delta between our mainline and our regional jets”
• He said that air travel in the United States is the safest form of transportation of travel in the world, and that the airline trains for events like this
• He was asked if he was concerned about Trump firing employees at the FAA, and said that the cuts don’t impact the airline, as the firings are in non-critical safety functions, and that “the Trump administration has committed to investing deeply in terms of improving the overall technologies that are used in the air traffic control systems and modernizing the skies, they’ve committed to hiring additional controllers and investigators”

I always find interviews with Bastian to be interesting… sort if in the least interesting way possible. He always sort of says the right thing without flinching, in a pre-rehearsed kind of way, as if it was written by AI. Listening to him, he lacks the passion and conviction of Scott Kirby, and the earnestness and relatability of Robert Isom (and Doug Parker before that, who I think was probably the genuinely kindest of the “big three” CEOs at the time, but… I guess nice guys finish last?).

Bottom line

On Monday, we saw a terrible accident at Toronto Airport, whereby a Delta Connection CRJ-900 flipped over during landing. Fortunately all passengers managed to safely evacuate, thanks to the great work of the flight attendants.

The airline is offering passengers $30,000 compensation, with no strings attached, so it doesn’t preclude any future legal action. On top of that, the airline is now working on reuniting passengers with belongings that were lost during the accident.

What do you make of Delta offering crash victims $30K compensation, plus Bastian’s interview?