Flight attendant sues Delta for $75M after Toronto crash, alleging airline prioritized profits over safety. Crew inexperience and negligence claimed.
Flight Attendant Sues Delta Over Toronto Crash Injuries
A U.S. flight attendant is suing Delta Air Lines and its regional carrier, Endeavor Air, for at least $75 million USD in damages following a dramatic crash landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this year that injured dozens.
Vanessa Miles, 67, filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court in Michigan this week, alleging that Delta “knowingly, willfully, and repeatedly placed profits over safety,” by assigning an inexperienced pilot and failing to properly train flight crew members.
Incident at Pearson Leaves 21 Injured
The crash occurred on February 17, 2025, when Delta Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, flipped and skidded upside down upon landing at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. The flight originated from Minneapolis and was carrying 80 passengers and crew.
The fiery crash sent at least 21 people to hospital. Miles, who was not working the flight but flying as a passenger in a practice known as “deadheading,” was among the injured.
Allegations of Negligence and Profit Motives
According to the 15-page complaint, Delta and Endeavor are accused of cutting corners by assigning a pilot who was “inadequately trained” and failing to maintain the plane’s landing gear.
Miles’s legal team argues the crash was not a freak accident but the result of systematic negligence, adding that safety was sacrificed in pursuit of operational efficiency. Her lawyer, Michael Morse, stated, “These things don’t just happen without somebody’s negligence.”
Graphic Details and Lasting Trauma
Miles alleges she was rendered unconscious during the crash, hanging upside down from her seatbelt before regaining consciousness in smoke and jet fuel. Her injuries included a broken shoulder, knee and back trauma, and ongoing post-traumatic stress disorder.
Despite her injuries, she helped evacuate passengers — actions that led to her receiving a heroism award from the Association of Flight Attendants earlier this year. She remains employed by Endeavor Air but has been unable to return to work.
Airline Denies Allegations as Legal Challenges Mount
Delta and Endeavor have not formally responded to the lawsuit. However, Delta spokesperson Morgan Durrant said both crew members on Flight 4819 were “qualified and FAA-certified.” The captain reportedly had more experience, while the first officer had completed training just 10 months before the incident.
At least 19 other lawsuits have been filed by passengers in both Canada and the U.S. related to the same crash. In prior court filings, Delta and Endeavor denied all allegations of liability.
Ongoing Investigation and Safety Review
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released preliminary findings in March, citing a steep descent and unusual nose pitch during final approach. A final report, which will determine the root cause, is expected by fall 2026.
Delta and Endeavor say they are cooperating fully with the TSB investigation. For now, the legal and regulatory fallout surrounding the crash continues to unfold — raising pressing questions about safety protocols on cross-border regional flights.
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