Airline Employee Who Survived Toronto Crash Claims Pilot Was ‘Inexperienced and Inadequately Trained’

Airline Employee Who Survived Toronto Crash Alleges Pilot was ‘Inexperienced and Inadequately Trained’

Vanessa Miles, an employee of Delta’s regional subsidiary, was “deadheading” when her flight to Toronto crash-landed on Feb. 17.

A passenger on board the Delta Air Lines plane that crashed in Toronto is now suing the company. Vanessa Miles and her lawyers claim the company’s alleged negligence led to the violent crash. All 80 people on board survived the Feb. 17 incident, with 18 people transported to local hospitals.

In a lawsuit filed on July 28, Michigan resident Vanessa Miles boarded Toronto-bound Endeavor Air Flight 4819 in Minneapolis on Feb. 17, 2025. Although an employee of Endeavor Air — a regional Delta subsidiary — she was traveling as a passenger to another assignment location, a practice known as “deadheading.”

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the flight crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time. Footage and photos captured during the incident show the jet catching fire as it hit the runway, skidded out, and rolled over, coming to rest upside down.

All 80 people on board — 76 passengers and four crew members — were evacuated, as confirmed by the FAA. It was reported that on the day of the incident, Delta issued a statement mentioning that 18 customers with injuries were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Miles and her legal team claim that Delta’s alleged “grossly negligent operation of the aircraft” was a contributing factor to the crash. The lawsuit asserts that an inexperienced and inadequately trained pilot was assigned to operate the flight, indicating safety corner-cutting by rushing pilots through training programs.

The suit further details Miles’ alleged injuries sustained during the crash. She states she was temporarily unconscious while hanging upside down in the inverted aircraft, soaked in jet fuel, and surrounded by smoke. Moreover, she claims that due to the non-deployment of emergency slides, she fell 6-7 feet to the ground after unlocking her seatbelt, followed by enduring an hour in 15-degree weather for transportation to the hospital.

Among the severe and permanent injuries allegedly suffered by Miles are a fractured shoulder, traumatic brain injury, back injuries, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as others. Legal claims include strict liability, negligence, and gross negligence, with Miles seeking damages of at least $75 million along with legal costs.

An attorney with Mike Morse Law Firm, Madeline Sinkovich, shared that the complaint alleges preventable safety, training, and evacuation failures that resulted in significant injuries for Miles during the crash landing. Delta Air Lines declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, but a spokesperson noted that Delta continues to support the Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s investigation.

Following the release of the agency’s preliminary report on March 20, which highlighted gusty winds at the time of the plane’s landing approach, Endeavor Air and Delta emphasized the importance of safety in their engagement with the investigation. They refrained from further comment to respect the integrity of the continuing investigation led by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

In conclusion, the incident involving Delta Air Lines Flight 4819 in Toronto has raised concerns regarding the pilot’s alleged lack of experience and training, leading to legal repercussions for the airline. The impact on Vanessa Miles and the other passengers underscores the gravity of safety measures that must be upheld in aviation operations to prevent such distressing incidents. The attention brought to this case serves as a reminder of the vital role of thorough training and adherence to safety protocols within the aviation industry.