A plane accident changes your life in seconds. A crash landing. A sudden jolt from turbulence. An injury during boarding, or from a service cart in the aisle. One moment you’re a passenger; the next, you’re dealing with pain, medical bills, and an airline that has its own lawyers working the file from day one.
Maana Law represents injured passengers, crew members, and families across Mississauga, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area including anyone affected by the February 2025 crash landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport. We build claims against airlines, aircraft manufacturers, maintenance contractors, and air traffic control, under the Montreal Convention and Ontario law, on a contingency fee. You pay nothing unless we win.
How can we help
A plane accident claim runs on rules most passengers have never had to think about. If your flight crossed a border including most U.S.–Canada routes through Toronto Pearson. an international treaty called the Montreal Convention applies. Under it, the airline is automatically responsible for your proven damages up to 151,880 Special Drawing Rights, an international currency unit worth roughly $278,000 to $290,000 CAD depending on the day’s exchange rate. You do not have to prove the airline did anything wrong to recover up to that amount. Above it, the airline can only avoid paying if it proves the accident wasn’t its fault a difficult standard for a carrier to meet.
Our Mississauga aviation injury lawyers build every claim around this framework from day one, and go further where a manufacturer defect, a maintenance failure, or an air traffic control error adds another party to the case.
We pursue your automatic Montreal Convention entitlement first, then build the case for damages above it, and identify every party airline, manufacturer, maintenance contractor, or air traffic control who may share responsibility for your injury.
We handle your claim directly: gathering flight data, medical records, and incident reports; managing communication with the airline and its insurer; and preparing your file for negotiation or litigation from day one.
Our Services
What you do in the days after a plane accident and who you contact affects how strong your claim will be.
A hard jolt from turbulence, a rough landing, or an emergency evacuation can cause injuries that don’t show symptoms immediately. Psychological effects of a crash or a frightening in-flight event can also take days to surface. Tell every doctor you see that the injury happened on a flight that record is what connects your injury to the incident later.
Airline crews are required to log onboard injuries and incidents. Before you leave the airport, if you can, ask for a copy of the report or at least the report reference number. Airlines are not always quick to volunteer this once you’ve gone home.
Keep your boarding pass, take photos of the cabin, the seat, or your visible injury, and write down the names and contact details of nearby passengers or crew who saw what happened. The airline controls the flight data recorder and maintenance logs your own account and photos may be the only evidence that exists independent of the airline’s own records.
before speaking with a lawyer. Insurers are trained to ask questions in ways that can be used to minimize your claim later.
The Montreal Convention is the international treaty that governs most passenger injury claims on flights that cross a border, including nearly all Canada–U.S. routes through Toronto Pearson. It replaces the usual “you must prove the airline was negligent” standard with a two-tier system that works in your favour for the first, and largest, portion of most claims.
| Tier | What Happens | Your Burden of Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 – up to 151,880 SDR (≈$278,000–$290,000 CAD) | The airline is automatically responsible for your proven damages | None. you do not need to prove the airline was at fault |
| Tier 2 – above 151,880 SDR | The airline can avoid paying only if it proves the accident was not caused by its own negligence or that of its employees | The airline carries the burden, not you |
This limit is not fixed forever. it is reviewed and adjusted by international treaty roughly every five years. It moved from 100,000 SDR under the original 1999 treaty, to 128,821 SDR in December 2019, to its current 151,880 SDR as of December 28, 2024. (Source: Canadian Transportation Agency.)
Purely domestic flights are different. If your flight departed and landed entirely within Canada, with no international stop, the Montreal Convention generally does not apply at all. Ontario’s ordinary negligence law governs instead, along with the province’s own two-year limitation period under the Limitations Act, 2002. (Source: Carriage by Air Act, Justice Canada.) Ask a lawyer early in your case to confirm which set of rules actually applies to your specific flight it changes how your claim is built from the ground up.
How We Work
Yes. delayed symptoms are common after a plane accident, just as they are after a car accident. Adrenaline and shock during a crash landing, a hard jolt of turbulence, or an emergency evacuation can mask pain in the moment, only for real symptoms to surface once the adrenaline wears off.
whiplash-type neck pain, back pain, headaches, and dizziness from a hard landing, sudden turbulence, or a service cart impact typically appear in this window the same pattern seen after a rear-end car collision.
shoulder pain, upper back pain, tingling in the arms, blurred vision, and fatigue can develop, especially following an impact injury or a fall during boarding or deplaning.
psychological effects often emerge in this window anxiety, sleep disturbance, hypervigilance around flying, and post-traumatic stress connected to the incident, even where the physical injury was minor.
Ontario law generally recognizes delayed symptom onset, meaning the clock on your claim can, in some circumstances, start from when you first noticed the injury rather than strictly the date of the flight. Do not rely on this to delay seeing a doctor.
owes every passenger a high standard of care. A carrier that fails to properly train its crew, ignores scheduled maintenance, or breaks safety protocols can be held directly responsible for resulting injuries.
a defective part, a design flaw, or a failed safety system can trigger a product liability claim against the plane's manufacturer, entirely separate from and in addition to any claim against the airline itself.
airlines routinely hire outside companies to service and inspect their aircraft. A missed inspection, a rushed repair, or a badly installed part can point responsibility at the maintenance company rather than the airline that operated the flight.
errors in routing, sequencing aircraft, or communicating with pilots can directly contribute to a crash, a near-miss, or a runway incident, adding the air navigation authority as a potential party to your claim.
Two different tracks generally decide how your claim works, depending entirely on where your flight started and ended.
This covers flights crossing a border, which includes nearly all U.S.–Canada routes through Toronto Pearson. As explained above, the airline is automatically responsible for proven damages up to 151,880 SDR, and above that limit the burden shifts to the airline to prove it was not at fault. A strict two-year limitation period runs from the date of the accident, and it generally cannot be extended.
this cap changed recently, and some firms haven’t caught up. The Montreal Convention’s liability limit was revised on December 28, 2024, rising from 128,821 SDR to its current 151,880 SDR. Several law firm websites are still quoting the older 2019 figure, or even the original 1999 figure of 100,000 SDR a difference of tens of thousands of dollars in what a client might expect as their automatic entitlement. Always confirm the current number with your lawyer at the time you file, since currency conversion and the treaty figure itself can both shift.
If your flight stayed entirely within Canada with no international leg, the Montreal Convention generally does not apply. Ontario’s ordinary negligence law governs instead, and the province’s own two-year limitation period under the Limitations Act, 2002 also applies.
Often, yes. Under the Montreal Convention’s jurisdiction rules, you can generally bring your claim in Ontario if any one of the following is true: the airline’s home base is here, its principal place of business is here, you purchased your ticket through a business located here, or Ontario was your flight’s destination. For most flights connected to Toronto Pearson, at least one of these conditions is met, so you should not assume you have to travel to another province or country to bring your claim
On February 17, 2025, Delta Connection flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport while arriving from Minneapolis–Saint Paul. There were 80 people on board 76 passengers and 4 crew. Of those, 21 were injured, including three critically: a child, a man in his 60s, and a woman in her 40s. The rest sustained injuries such as back sprains and head lacerations. All 21 injured passengers and crew were discharged from hospital within four days.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada released a preliminary report on March 20, 2025. It found that the aircraft was descending at roughly 1,100 feet per minute at touchdown above the landing gear’s designed limit of 720 feet per minute at an airspeed of about 136 knots, below the recommended landing speed of 144 knots. The right main landing gear fractured on contact, causing it to collapse, which led to a wing separating from the fuselage and a fuel fire. The TSB has been explicit that these are technical findings from its investigation, not a determination of cause. As of the most recent update, the investigation remains open a Class 2 investigation typically completed within about 600 days and no final report has been issued. (Source: TSB investigation A25O0021; TSB preliminary report.)
You do not need to wait for the TSB’s final report to start your own claim. Evidence gets stronger, not weaker, when your legal team is involved early, before records age and memories of the day fade. If you were a passenger or crew member on that flight, or on any other flight that left you hurt, contact Maana Law we track TSB findings as they become public and use them to support your case.
the leading cause of plane crashes worldwide, including mistakes in navigation, autopilot management, and descent rate during landing exactly the kind of technical issue under review in the February 2025 Pearson crash.
from a single defective part to a failed safety system. Depending on what failed and why, responsibility can point to the aircraft manufacturer, a maintenance contractor, or both.
mistakes in routing, sequencing aircraft for landing, or communicating with pilots can directly contribute to a crash, a near-miss, or a runway incident.
snow, ice, high winds, and bird strikes remain common causes, along with human error by ground crews, baggage loaders, or dispatchers handling the aircraft on the ground.
| Situation | What You May Recover |
|---|---|
| Damages within 151,880 SDR (≈$278,000 – $290,000 CAD) | Automatic under the Montreal Convention : the airline cannot dispute fault for this portion |
| Damages above that limit | Recoverable if the airline cannot prove it was not at fault, or if another party the manufacturer, a maintenance contractor, or air traffic control shares responsibility |
| A purely domestic flight | An ordinary Ontario negligence claim, with no Montreal Convention cap involved at all |
| A family member died in the accident | A wrongful death claim for funeral costs, lost financial support, and the loss of guidance and companionship |
a defective part or design flaw contributed to the accident, pointing to the aircraft manufacturer; a maintenance contractor missed a required inspection or performed a repair incorrectly; air traffic control made a routing, sequencing, or communication error; or the airport authority failed to properly maintain the runway or clear snow and ice. Maana Law investigates every one of these possibilities not just the airline named on your ticket before we value your claim, because the difference between one liable party and three can be the difference between a modest settlement and full compensation for a life-changing injury.
Our Mississauga injury lawyers guide you step-by-step toward maximum compensation.
we review your medical records, the airline's incident report, and your flight details to determine whether the Montreal Convention or Ontario negligence law governs your claim, and to get an early sense of what your case may be worth.
we work to obtain flight data, maintenance logs, and air traffic control records, and bring in aviation and medical experts where the case calls for it, to build a complete picture of what happened and why.
we pursue your automatic Montreal Convention entitlement first, then negotiate for damages above that limit where the airline or another party is at fault, countering lowball offers with documented evidence.
if the airline disputes fault, or the offer on the table doesn't reflect the real value of your injury, we provide full representation through the Ontario Superior Court.
If you were hurt in a plane accident, depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to recover:
You may still have a valid claim. Passengers who were badly shaken by a crash landing, an emergency evacuation, or severe turbulence can experience real, serious psychological harm including anxiety and post-traumatic stress even without a visible physical injury. Canadian courts recognize compensation for serious emotional and psychological injury connected to a traumatic event on its own, not only for physical harm, so it’s worth speaking with a lawyer about what happened to you even if you walked away without a scratch.
Yes. Ontario uses comparative negligence. Your tort award is reduced by your fault percentage, but accident benefits are completely unaffected. Ontario’s no-fault system pays regardless of fault.
Example: 25% at fault with $200,000 in damages = $150,000 recovery. In rear-end collisions, the following driver gets 100% fault under O. Reg. 668 (Fault Determination Rules).
| Deadline | Action Required |
|---|---|
| As soon as possible | Seek medical attention for any injury, and report the incident to the airline in writing |
| No fixed legal deadline, but urgent | Preserve your own evidence photos, your boarding pass, and witness names before memories fade and records age |
| 2 years from the date of the accident | File your claim under the Montreal Convention (international flights) or Ontario’s Limitations Act, 2002 (purely domestic flights) |
The two-year deadline under the Montreal Convention is strict, and it generally does not extend for hardship, ongoing treatment, or the fact that you were still recovering when it passed. For delayed symptoms, Ontario law may in some circumstances allow the clock to start from when you first noticed the injury rather than the date of the flight itself but that is not something to rely on if you are able to act sooner. The safest approach is always to contact a lawyer as soon as you’re able, so nothing is left to a technical argument about when your claim’s clock actually started.
Your Case, Our Priority
At Maana Law, we believe in providing personalized care and attention to each case. Meet the two passionate leaders of our firm, who are dedicated to securing the best outcomes for our clients:
Aman Kalra, the founder of Maana Law, has spent his career advocating for those affected by negligence and accidents. With his deep commitment to justice and exceptional legal expertise, Aman ensures that each client receives the compensation they deserve. Fluent in both Hindi and English, Aman connects effortlessly with clients from diverse backgrounds, making him a trusted advocate in Mississauga and beyond. His leadership and the team at Maana Law share his passion for excellence in personal injury law.
Gagan is the backbone of our firm’s day-to-day operations, ensuring that everything runs smoothly for our clients. As a law clerk and office administrator, Gagan is often the first point of contact for clients and ensures their needs are met with efficiency and care. A proud alumna of Osgoode Hall Law School, she is a licensing candidate with the Law Society of Ontario. Fluent in English, Hindi, and Punjabi, Gagan bridges language barriers, making sure all clients feel understood and supported in their legal journey.
Common Questions
Yes. Most airline injury claims come from turbulence, falling luggage, service cart impacts, or hard landings, not full crashes. If you were hurt on board in any of these ways, you may have a claim.
Generally two years from the date of the accident under the Montreal Convention for international flights, or Ontario’s Limitations Act for purely domestic flights. Both deadlines are strict and are best treated as firm rather than flexible.
Often, yes. Ontario courts can generally hear your claim if the airline is based here, sells tickets here, or Toronto Pearson was your flight’s destination.
Airlines are automatically responsible for proven damages up to 151,880 Special Drawing Rights roughly $278,000 to $290,000 CAD depending on the exchange rate and may owe more if they cannot prove the accident wasn’t their fault. Every case depends on your specific injuries and circumstances, so a free consultation gives you a real answer rather than a guess.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada, including the ongoing investigation into the February 2025 Toronto Pearson crash. Their findings can support your claim once made public, but you do not need to wait for a final report to start your case.
No. Consultations are free, and we work on a no-win, no-fee basis for plane accident and personal injury claims.
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Manna Law is located at 90 Matheson Blvd W Suite 101, Mississauga, ON L5R 3R3, Canada.
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