• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
FinanceDelta Air Lines

Delta is offering $30,000 with ‘no strings attached’ to passengers on the Toronto flight that crash-landed. Legal experts say they should read the fine print

Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 21, 2025, 5:27 AM ET
Investigators examine the wreckage of a Delta Air Lines plane on Feb. 18, 2025, a day after it crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Investigators examine the wreckage of a Delta Air Lines plane on Feb. 18, 2025, a day after it crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport.Geoff Robins—AFP/Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.
  • Delta offered passengers on the plane that crash-landed in Toronto a $30,000 payout that was lauded by PR experts. Yet legal experts say the move should be commended only if it really comes “with no strings attached” as Delta says it does. Passengers should be cautious about the fine print of any agreement they sign and shouldn’t be afraid to pursue litigation against the company, the experts added.

After a Delta plane crashed in Toronto, the airline quickly offered affected passengers $30,000 payments with “no strings attached,” yet legal experts say passengers should be cautious nonetheless about accepting the payment.

Recommended Video

A spokesperson for Delta confirmed to Fortune the $30,000 payment offered to passengers came with “no strings attached and does not affect rights.” But the payment likely won’t be as simple as sending a check, and passengers should be cautious about the fine print of any agreement they sign, said John Carpenter, personal injury attorney and cofounder of Carpenter & Zuckerman law firm.

“They’re going to ask them to sign something, an acknowledgement, and then what you find very often is you’ll check a box for terms of use,” Carpenter told Fortune.

If asked to sign an agreement, passengers should search for words such as “release,” “waiver,” “setoff,” “reimbursable,” “assignment,” “confidentiality,” “non-disparagement,” and “arbitration,” among others, said Carpenter. These words could indicate the document is more than a simple receipt of funds, he said, and passengers should seek the advice of an attorney.

Although the $30,000 may seem generous, it might not compare to the costs that could come with more serious injuries passengers may have incurred, said aviation attorney Timothy A. Loranger of Los Angeles–based mass-disaster law firm Wisner Baum.

“All passengers likely experienced emotional distress, with some suffering severe psychological trauma due to the terrifying nature of the crash,” Loranger told Fortune. “For those with significant injuries, $30,000 may be grossly inadequate and far from full compensation.” 

However, accepting a payment from Delta shouldn’t preclude passengers from pursuing further damages through litigation, Loranger added.

If the payment is genuinely meant to help out the affected customers, Delta should be applauded, Carpenter said, but passengers shouldn’t look to close the book on their case against the company so soon.

Passengers can develop both mental and physical injuries later on that should be taken into account when considering any settlement with the airline, he added.

“You never want to resolve a case until you have evaluated what your injuries are, short-term and long-term,” Carpenter said.

The Delta flight, operated by Endeavor Air, was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members from Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport to Toronto when it flipped over upon landing Monday. Although no one was killed, 21 passengers were injured. As of Thursday all injured passengers had been released from the hospital, according to Delta.

Because the flight was international, according to the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions, the airline would owe at least $20,000 for each passenger who died, the New York Times reported. The payment offered to injured passengers is at the discretion of the airline and doesn’t mean they admit liability. If a passenger wins compensation in a future lawsuit, the airline’s payment would be deducted from the overall payout.

The $30,000 payment Delta offered passengers is purposefully large and a shrewd PR maneuver, said Amanda Orr, the founder of legal and political communications firm Orr Strategy Group. 

“By them offering the money, it gives the public an idea that they do care about their passengers, that they would like to make this right,” Orr told Fortune. “It’s a very positive thing that they did.” 

Although it’s likely few of the passengers will accept the money and will work with lawyers, offering it up could still help indirectly cushion Delta against lawsuits, Orr said.

“If any passenger accepts the money, [Delta is] at reduced legal risk because somebody who accepts that money could be less inclined to sue,” Orr said. “It’s just good damage control all around.”

About the Author
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezReporter
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Role: Reporter
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez is a reporter for Fortune covering general business news.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

Paris court gives oil giant Total Energies half a year to tighten climate policies. Climate activists cry foul
EnergyEurope
Paris court gives oil giant Total Energies half a year to tighten climate policies. Climate activists cry foul
By The Associated Press, Molly Quell and Sylvie CorbetJune 25, 2026
1 hour ago
Students happy outside of school
SuccessColleges and Universities
One U.S. college is fixing tuition at just 10% of parental income: ‘We’re not hiding the cost of college behind secret formulas’
By Emma BurleighJune 25, 2026
1 hour ago
Personal Liability Insurance for Homeowners: Coverage and Common Exclusions Explained
Personal FinanceInsurance
Personal Liability Insurance for Homeowners: Coverage and Common Exclusions Explained
By Joseph HostetlerJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) Insurance: The Smart Coverage Bundle Many Small Businesses Overlook
Personal FinanceInsurance
Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) Insurance: The Smart Coverage Bundle Many Small Businesses Overlook
By Joseph HostetlerJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
What Is General Liability Insurance for Small Businesses?
Personal FinanceInsurance
What Is General Liability Insurance for Small Businesses?
By Joseph HostetlerJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
TIAA CEO Thasunda Brown Ducket
SuccessFortune 500: Titans and Disruptors of Industry
TIAA’s CEO made $26,000 in her first job but still maxed out her 401(k). She has advice for Gen Z
By Emma BurleighJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
10 hours ago
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Retail
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
2 days ago
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
Economy
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
By Tristan BoveJune 24, 2026
23 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.