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# Crisis communications: social media takes over pilot speculation in Toronto fiery landing
- URL: https://capitolcommunicator.com/crisis-communications-social-media-takes-over-pilot-speculation-in-toronto-fiery-landing/
- Published: 2025-03-03T21:32:11.000Z
- Updated: 2025-03-05T18:44:44.000Z
- Author: Phil Rabin
- Tags: Insights, Social Media, #wp-top-right-sponsored, #Import 2026-10-08 18:55

**On February 17, Delta Air Lines flight DL4819 from Minneapolis to Toronto** made, said one media report, [a fiery landing](https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/delta-plane-crash-toronto-pearson-airport-minneapolis-st-paul-international-airport/?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) at Toronto Pearson International Airport, skidding down the tarmac before coming to a stop while flipped upside down.

The good news is that none of the 80 passengers and crew died, although 21 suffered injuries, two critically.

Afterwards, the focus turned to what caused the incident and who was flying the plane. The cause has yet to be determined; and Delta, to date, has remained quiet about naming the pilot and co-pilot, leaving speculation to those on social media, along with troll-like commentary.

At this time, about two weeks later, states an online item, while the names of the flight crew have still not been released, “that has not stopped suspected names of the flight crew, whether accurate or not, from flooding the internet with unfounded derogatory remarks regarding the skill of the pilots—or lack thereof—forcing the airline to push back online rumors and misleading assertions.

“The bulk of the rumors claimed the pilot and first officer had failed training events and were not fully certified or qualified for their positions, especially in extremely windy, wintry weather conditions. Delta says the online claims are false. Both crew members are FAA-certified for their positions.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/16/5016dd29-aeff-4565-a68b-cdbb78bc58e6/content/images/2026/10/Toronto-Plane-Social-Media.png)

One online post, despite any confirmation, stated that “Kendal Swanson, the 26-year-old First Officer, has been identified as the pilot responsible for crashing a Delta plane upside down at Toronto Pearson International Airport.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/16/5016dd29-aeff-4565-a68b-cdbb78bc58e6/content/images/2026/10/Swanson.png)

Note that the social media post above describes the plane’s Captain having “a questionable record himself.”

For communicators, the challenge in a crisis situation is to act quickly to address the situation and promptly correct inaccuracies. Delta has responded to the social media allegations in general terms, perhaps at the direction of its lawyers, but their approach and reluctance to share important details shows what can happen when social media takes over the post-crisis dialogue.