A flight attendant who was hailed as a hero following the Delta Air Lines crash in Toronto earlier this year has initiated legal action against the airline, alleging that it prioritized efficiency over safety, thereby endangering passengers. Vanessa Miles, recognized for her bravery during the incident, has filed a 15-page complaint in a U.S. federal court in Michigan seeking damages exceeding $75 million US for the injuries she sustained.
The lawsuit asserts that Delta and its subsidiary, Endeavor Air, are culpable for negligence by assigning an inexperienced pilot and inadequately training the flight crew. The incident, which occurred on February 17, resulted in the Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft flipping upside down and sliding along the runway at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, leading to multiple injuries among the 80 passengers and crew aboard Flight 4819.
Despite the allegations made by Miles, Delta and Endeavor Air have not officially responded to the claims, and the veracity of the allegations is yet to be determined in court. The legal action highlights a series of complaints arising from the crash, with 19 lawsuits filed against the airline companies by passengers from the U.S. and Canada. Delta has maintained that both flight crew members on Flight 4819 were appropriately qualified and certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
Miles, a long-serving flight attendant based in Detroit, recounts in her lawsuit the harrowing experience of being left unconscious while suspended upside down by her seatbelt following the crash. She sustained various injuries, including knee and back injuries, a broken shoulder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The complaint accuses the airlines of prioritizing profit over safety, leading to the catastrophic incident and Miles’s severe injuries.
The lawsuit adds to the growing discontent surrounding the Toronto crash, with a demand for accountability and justice for the affected individuals. The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) continues its investigation into the crash, with the full report expected to be released by the fall of 2026.