Was Delta plane crash pilot a DEI hire?

Delta flight’s upside-down crash sparks speculation about pilot’s identity amid ongoing DEI debate.

A Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis to Toronto crashed on Monday as it attempted to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The CRJ900 twin-jet aircraft flipped upside down and caught fire, but fortunately, all 80 people on board survived. Twenty-one passengers sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital, with most released by Tuesday morning.

This crash is part of a series of recent aviation tragedies, including a midair collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people and a medevac crash in Philadelphia that claimed six lives. President Donald Trump, during a January 30 briefing about the American Airlines collision, described the incident as a "real tragedy" and suggested that government DEI policies and employee mental health were factors contributing to the crashes.

A key detail from the Delta crash was that video footage did not show the usual "flare" maneuver typically performed by pilots before landing. This maneuver involves pulling the nose of the plane up just before touchdown to expose the wings to more air resistance, which slows the aircraft down and helps with a smoother landing. The lack of this flare led some aviation experts to speculate about potential issues with the pilot's actions during the landing attempt.

As the investigation continues, one aspect of the Delta crash has sparked considerable online debate: Was the pilot a “DEI hire”? The term "DEI hire" refers to individuals hired based on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, often implying that racial or gender quotas are being prioritized over qualifications.

Every black/female/queer pilot right now, hoping that delta pilot was a white male pic.twitter.com/o1jxM3qsaH

— Chamath's Neglected Legs (@ChamsNegLegs) February 18, 2025

Delta Air Lines, which has been publicly promoting its diverse workforce, has faced scrutiny over its DEI policies. Some social media users speculated that the Delta pilot involved in the crash was hired based on these initiatives.

The pinned video on Delta’s TikTok account: pic.twitter.com/leDMlhtAq3

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 18, 2025

This speculation led to a viral online conversation, with critics accusing Delta of prioritizing race and sexual preferences over merit. Many users took to social media to discuss their concerns, often in disparaging terms.

This is from Delta's DEI website. An airline OBSESSED with the race and sexual preferences of their workers. Think the passengers who almost died in Toronto give a flying FUCK about if the pilot blows dudes or the flight attendant's great grandma was a non binary Native American?… pic.twitter.com/DpAuFjxVLg

— Tyler Fischer (@TyTheFisch) February 18, 2025

However, Delta has emphasized its "skills-first" approach to hiring, which focuses on a candidate's skills, background, and experience rather than solely on education or academic pedigree. The airline has stated that its goal is to close representation gaps and ensure a more equitable workforce.

As for the crash itself, aviation experts have noted that the aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ900, was designed to withstand hard landings, allowing for the quick evacuation of passengers. A flight path recording revealed that air traffic control had cleared the flight to land, but warned of a potential air flow issue due to another plane ahead. Despite this, the crash’s cause remains under investigation.

While no official statement has identified the pilot, online discussions have continued to speculate. These ongoing debates surrounding DEI in aviation have fueled further controversy, even as the focus should remain on investigating the crash itself and ensuring passenger safety.