Delta Passenger Who Survived Upside Down Crash Landing in Toronto Sues Airline: 'Drenched With Jet Fuel'

Mar. 15, 2025

A Bombardier CRJ-900 DELTA flight 4819 from Minneapolis lays upside down on the runway covered in foam at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Feb. 17, 2025.Photo:Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty

Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty

A passenger on the Delta flight from Minnesota thatcrash-landedat Toronto’s Pearson International Airport runway earlier this week filed a lawsuit against the airline company, alleging that he was “drenched with jet fuel” during the ordeal.

According to video footage, Delta Flight 4819 landed on the airport’s icy runway as snow covered the ground around it.

Before the plane could come to a stop, it skidded, flipped upside down and burst into flames. Miraculously, all those aboard the plane survived, although there were at least 18 reported injuries.

“All 80 people on board were evacuated,” the FAA said in a statement at the time, adding, “The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will be in charge of the investigation and will provide any updates.”

Lourens, a resident of Texas, said in the complaint that he sustained significant injuries to his head, back, knees and face due to the crash.

“During the crash sequence, Mr. Laurens was belted in his seat, which prevented him from sustaining life-threatening injuries. As the plane rolled upside down, Mr. Laurens was drenched with jet fuel,” read the complaint.

The complaint also stated Laurens suffered additional injuries “when he released his seatbelt and fell to the ceiling of the upside-down aircraft.”

The plaintiff also claimed that as a result of the incident, he faces current and future medical expenses and was deprived of his enjoyment of life and interests, the complaint added.

“As a result of said accident, Mr. Lourens suffered great pain, agony and mental anguish, and in the future shall continue to suffer from same,” read the document.

Lourens maintained that Delta and Endeavor “are liable to pay full, fair and reasonable damages" to him “pursuant to the Montreal Convention and applicable law,” read the court document.

According to theInternational Air Transport Association, the Montreal Convention, a treaty, determines liability for airlines in matters of “death or injury to passengers, as well as in cases of delay, damage or loss of baggage and cargo.”

Compensation for passengers injured on international flights can amount up to $200,000, according to the treaty,CBS Newsreported—but that figure can go higher if the airline is found negligent.

Lourens is seeking in excess of $200,000 in damages, according to the complaint.

“As a result of Delta’s negligence, Marty Lourens suffered significant physical injuries,” Lourens' attorney Andres Pereira said in a statement to PEOPLE, later saying that Lourens “assisted getting the passengers out of the plane despite his physical injuries and trauma.”

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PEOPLE contacted Delta for comment on Friday, Feb. 21.

The lawsuit comes as Deltaannounced its compensation for the 76 passengers from the flight.Each of them would be given $30,000.

“Delta Care Team representatives are telling customers this gesture has no strings attached and does not affect rights,” a spokesperson for the airline told PEOPLE on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

The airline also announced in anupdateshared the same day that it was working “to secure, identify and sort customers’ bags that were removed from the aircraft.”

Delta also stated in its update that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and other stakeholders were starting its investigation into the incident.

source: people.com