Delta CEO comments on Toronto crash response

Delta CEO Ed Bastian praised the flight crew’s quick response following the regional jet crash in Toronto, which injured 21 people. He confirmed the pilots were experienced and trained for challenging weather conditions.

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian confirmed on Wednesday that the pilots of the regional jet, which flipped upside down upon landing in Toronto, were experienced and trained for wintry conditions. The crash, which injured 21 of the 80 people on board, occurred on Monday amid high winds and cold temperatures at Toronto Pearson Airport, still recovering from a snowstorm.

Bastian praised the flight crew for swiftly evacuating the aircraft, calling it "what we train for." Only one passenger remains hospitalised, with all others expected to survive. Delta is offering $30,000 goodwill payments to passengers.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating, with the wreckage of the 16-year-old CRJ900 still on the runway, causing delays at Toronto Pearson. While it’s too early to determine the cause, experts noted the plane's flat descent and lack of a regular landing flare.

Bastian reaffirmed that air travel remains safe, despite recent crashes in North America, and expressed no concerns over FAA layoffs, as they were in "non-critical safety functions." He also highlighted the U.S. administration's commitment to improving air traffic control.

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