Delta Will Pay Toronto Plane Crash Passengers $30k With 'no Strings Attached'

Toronto plane crash survivor recounts moment of impact, evacuations

A survivor of the Toronto plane crash recalled the Delta Airlines plane's roll over and evacuation of passengers and crew.

Delta Air Lines said it will compensate every passenger who was onboard this week's regional jet that crashed and flipped upside down at Toronto Pearson International Airport with $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 USA TODAY in an email.

Operated by Endeavor Air, the Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft crashed while landing at around 2:45 p.m. local time on Monday, ending up on its back with the wings and tail broken off. All 76 passengers and four crew members were evacuated, with 18 injured and transported to hospitals. According to paramedics, none of the injuries were life-threatening.

Experts told USA TODAY that the small size of the plane and seat belts likely played a role in protecting the lives of the passengers.

Passengers reported feeling the plane hit the ground before bouncing back into the air. It turned on its side before rolling over on its back. Footage shows flames erupt near the plane's tail after it reached the ground, followed by a cloud of black smoke.

Led by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, an agency of the Canadian government, with assistance by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the investigation into what caused the crash – the latest in the string of high-profile plane incidents – is still underway.