A Delta Air Lines crash in Toronto sparks a heated political debate between Karoline Leavitt and Senator Chuck Schumer, with accusations flying over aviation safety and responsibility.
Quick Takes
- Karoline Leavitt criticizes Senator Schumer for blaming Trump administration for Delta crash in Toronto
- Schumer claims Trump’s FAA workforce cuts contributed to the incident
- Leavitt counters that the crash occurred in Canadian airspace, outside U.S. jurisdiction
- All 80 passengers survived the crash, with 18 treated for injuries
- Debate highlights complexities of assigning blame across national borders
Political Sparring Over Toronto Plane Crash
A recent Delta Air Lines incident at Toronto Pearson Airport has ignited a fierce political debate between Trump administration Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Senator Chuck Schumer. The crash, which miraculously resulted in no fatalities, has become a battleground for discussions on aviation safety and regulatory responsibility across international borders.
Schumer was quick to point fingers at the Trump administration, claiming that cuts to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) workforce during Trump’s tenure contributed to the incident. However, Leavitt swiftly countered this assertion, emphasizing that the crash occurred in Canadian airspace and was under the purview of Canadian air traffic controllers.
Karoline Leavitt blasts ‘irresponsible’ Chuck Schumer for blaming Delta plane crash on Donald Trump — even though it was in Canada https://t.co/UruGD0yQvV pic.twitter.com/EwLywLG4ts
— New York Post (@nypost) February 19, 2025
Schumer’s Claims and Leavitt’s Rebuttal
Senator Schumer took to social media to express his concerns about aviation safety in light of the Toronto incident. He argued that despite the crash occurring in Canada, the flight’s origin in Minneapolis made it relevant to U.S. aviation oversight going on to say “To those asking whether it matters that the plane’s destination was in Canada: The flight took off from Minneapolis. The FAA was still responsible for inspecting the aviation equipment, and Trump just let go of FAA safety specialists.”
Leavitt, however, was quick to rebut these claims saying “it’s incredibly irresponsible for Chuck Schumer to say such a thing when the investigation is still underway.”, labeling Schumer’s comments as irresponsible, especially given that the investigation into the crash was still ongoing. She emphasized that no U.S. air traffic controllers were laid off during the Trump administration and highlighted efforts to improve the hiring process for FAA personnel.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
The crash involved a Bombardier CR900 aircraft that encountered difficulties while landing in challenging weather conditions. The plane caught fire and flipped, resulting in a dramatic scene at Toronto Pearson Airport. Remarkably, all 80 passengers and crew members survived the incident, though 18 passengers required medical treatment, including a four-year-old child who was taken to a Toronto hospital.
Images and video footage from the scene showed the aircraft upside down on the runway, with its right wing sheared off and engulfed in flames. The dramatic visuals have intensified public concern over aviation safety, particularly in light of several other aviation incidents in early 2025.
Broader Implications for Aviation Safety
This incident has reignited discussions about aviation safety and regulatory oversight across national borders. While Schumer points to potential issues within the U.S. aviation system, Leavitt maintains that the crash’s location in Canadian airspace places it outside the direct influence of U.S. policy changes.
The debate also touches on the Trump administration’s approach to federal hiring practices, with Leavitt highlighting President Trump’s executive order for merit-based hiring in federal agencies. She argued that this policy aimed to ensure that the FAA and other government agencies focused on skill-based recruitment.
