Delta Airlines and its regional affiliate Endeavour Air are countering what they call “false and misleading” information circulating on social media about the pilots of Endeavour Flight 4819, which crashed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday.
All 80 people on board survived, but the incident started a frenzy of online speculation, with many posts accusing a relatively new first officer of causing the accident.
In a statement on Thursday evening, Delta refuted rumours that the first officer, hired in January 2024 and fully certified by April, had failed training events.
They also denied that the captain had been unable to move to a Delta pilot position due to poor performance.
Instead, Delta confirmed both crew members met all regulatory requirements and had no failed training sessions on record.
Social media speculation had focused on one individual, identified in some posts as First Officer Kendal Swanson.
Swanson was alleged to have been flying a small propeller aircraft just a year ago and was blamed for the crash landing.
However, Delta insisted these claims are untrue, stating that their cockpit personnel are “qualified and FAA certified for their positions” and that their flight experience “exceeds the minimum requirements set by U.S. federal regulations.”
The speculation began with a now-viral tweet, viewed nearly one million times, from user Houman David Hemmati.
Hemmati wrote that a captain “with a questionable record” may have erred by trusting a recently licensed co-pilot.
This tweet has since been labelled by the airlines as disinformation, echoing Delta’s broader response to what they say is a rush to judgement over pilot identities and backgrounds.
An alleged flight record screenshot circulating online lists someone named “James” as Pilot in Command (PIC) and “Kendal” as First Officer (FO), suggesting the ultimate responsibility lay with the captain.
Still, many posts continue to pin the blame on Swanson, saying that Delta is withholding names to defend diversity hiring.
The Bombardier CRJ900LR, operating as Delta Airlines Flight DL 4819, flipped over upon landing at Toronto Pearson shortly before 3 pm EST on February 17.
Strong winds and blowing snow were reported, and air traffic controllers had warned the crew about gusty conditions.
The aircraft’s dramatic overturn caused 21 injuries, though passengers credit the swift response of emergency teams for the absence of any fatalities.
Delta announced it would offer each passenger $30,000 in compensation, but stressed that acceptance does not prevent future legal action.
Transportation authorities continue their investigation, examining flight data and weather conditions to determine exactly why the plane crashed.
According to official reports, the captain had flown for Mesaba Airlines (a predecessor to Endeavour) since 2007, while the first officer joined Endeavour in January 2024.
Despite persistent online claims, Delta and Endeavour reiterate that neither pilot failed training or demonstrated inadequacies.
As officials work toward a final crash report, Delta urges the public to rely on verified information.
Both the airline and investigators are calling for patience, cautioning against unproven theories and social media speculation.