Air Canada Boeing Catches Fire After Takeoff, Lands Safely

Photo : Screengrab / X / @Cmdr_Hadfield

Paris-bound Air Canada Flight AC872's engine catches fire at Toronto Pearson Airport, necessitating an immediate landing.

An Air Canada Boeing Flight AC872 caught fire in mid-air shortly after takeoff from Toronto Pearson Airport.

The frightening incident occurred on the evening of June 5. The Paris-bound aircraft experienced a harrowing situation that could have ended in disaster.

Thirty minutes into the flight, while the plane was ascending from the runway, the right engine caught fire. Flight tracker FlightAware reported that the plane departed from its gate at 8:46 PM but had to return and land at Toronto Pearson Airport by 9:50 PM.

Viral video footage captured the moment a flash of light emerged from the right engine, followed by a small explosion that set the plane's tail ablaze. Ground witnesses were shocked, with one exclaiming, “Holy crap! It’s got an engine fire!” according to The Sun.

However, Canada's local outlet CP24 reported that none of the 400 passengers or crew members were injured. The flight crew managed to land the plane safely, preventing a potential catastrophe.

“Passengers will be accommodated on another aircraft departing Toronto later tonight,” Air Canada stated.

An Air Canada representative later explained that the fire was caused by an engine compressor issue. “After the aircraft landed, it was inspected by airport response vehicles as per normal operating procedures, and it taxied to the gate on its own,” the representative told CP24. “The aircraft will be taken out of service for further evaluation by our maintenance and engineering professionals.”

The Boeing 777-300ER involved in this incident has been part of Air Canada’s fleet since March 2008, with 19 of these aircraft currently in active service.

This incident marks the second engine-related event at Toronto Pearson Airport in less than two weeks. On May 27, another flight bound for Delhi, India, encountered an engine issue shortly after takeoff, requiring a reroute.

The Boeing 777-300ER is known for its robust design and has served Air Canada well over the years. However, these recent events have raised questions about the ongoing maintenance and inspection protocols for these aircraft.