Gayle King stunned after Delta CEO denies Trump’s FAA cuts caused Toronto crash

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Gayle King is being mocked for her baffled reaction during an interview with Delta CEO Ed Bastian, who debunked reports that Monday’s plane crash at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport was due to the Trump administration’s cuts to the Federal Aviation Authority.

The CBS Morning host looked taken aback as she tilted her head to one side and gave a surprised look as Bastian said the dismissal of hundreds of employees had zero impact on safety.

“I know the Trump administration recently fired many employees of the FAA administration. Do those cuts worry you and do you think that impacts the safety?” King asked Bastian on Wednesday’s show.

“I know you just said that it’s the safest way to travel but after looking at all these mishaps, a lot of people are very nervous. Do these cuts affect you?” she continued.

“The cuts do not affect us, Gayle,” Bastian responded, and King couldn’t hide her surprise.

“I’ve been in close communication with the Secretary of Transportation,” he said.

“I understand that the, the cuts at this time are something that are raising questions, but the reality is there’s over 50,000 people that work at the FAA. And the cuts, I understand, were 300 people, and they were in non-critical safety functions,” Bastian noted.

He continued: “The Trump administration has committed to investing deeply in terms of improving the overall technologies that are used in the air traffic control systems and modernizing the skies.”

Bastian added: “They’ve committed to hiring additional controllers and investigators, and safety and investigators. So no, I’m not concerned with that at all.”

The reaction online to King’s leading questions were quick.

MAGA supporter Pat Licata wrote, “King’s face? Priceless—cocked her head like she’d been slapped with reality.”

She continued: “King’s push to pin crashes on Trump showed she didn’t do her homework. She wanted a gotcha, he gave her facts. Tough break, Gayle.”

Businessman Keith Ainsworth commented, “Yep, that sure didn’t go as planned. Every question asked by any reporter on any mainstream media channel is designed to make the administration look bad.”

Investigative journalist Lara Logan added: “Imagine being that dumb.”

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Meanwhile, Bastian insisted the pilots of Delta’s Endeavor Flight 4819 from Minneapolis to Toronto, who have not yet been identified, were experienced and up to the task as the investigation continues into what caused the jet to turn on its side before flipping upside down and catching fire.

“All these pilots train for these conditions,” the Delta boss said.

“They fly under all kinds of conditions at all the airports in which we rate, so there’s nothing specific with respect to experience that I’d look to.”

The Delta jet flipped on its roof while landing at Pearson airport.

The 21 people out of 80 on board that were taken to hospital have since been released.

Delta added that it will continue to provide care to those who were on the flight, with some of that care being a “no strings attached” offer of US$30,000 in compensation to passengers who were on the plane.

“I want to express my deep appreciation and thanks for the crew on board the plane. Our Endeavor crew performed heroically, but also as expected. This is what we train for,” Bastian said.

“The fact that they were able to evacuate that plane as expeditiously as they did under extreme conditions coupled with the fact that all 80 people walked off the plane with limited physical injuries was really a testament to the safety that’s embedded in the systems.”