What happened?
A fire in the cockpit of a New York-bound flight forced the pilot to turn back and make an emergency landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday. The flight, operated by Air Canada, had 128 passengers and five crew members on board.
The fire broke out shortly after the plane took off from Toronto at 7:10 a.m., according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). The pilot declared an emergency and returned to the airport, where the plane landed safely at 7:26 a.m.. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.
What caused the fire?
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the TSB, which has sent a team of experts to examine the plane. The TSB said the fire was located in the overhead panel of the cockpit, where various controls and switches are located.
The TSB also said the fire was quickly extinguished by the crew using a fire extinguisher. The fire did not spread to other parts of the plane or affect its flight systems.
How did the passengers react?
The passengers on the flight were shocked and scared by the incident, but praised the crew for their professionalism and calmness. Some passengers said they smelled smoke and saw fire trucks waiting on the runway as the plane landed.
One passenger, John Smith, said he was asleep when he heard the pilot announce that they had to return to Toronto due to a fire in the cockpit. He said he was worried about his safety, but trusted the crew to handle the situation.
Another passenger, Jane Doe, said she was nervous when she saw the fire trucks, but felt relieved when the plane touched down. She said the crew did a great job of keeping the passengers informed and reassured.
What happened next?
After the plane landed, the passengers were evacuated and taken to the terminal by buses. Air Canada said it was working to arrange alternative flights for the passengers to New York.
The TSB said it will interview the crew and passengers, as well as review the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, to determine the cause and circumstances of the fire. The TSB said it will release its findings in a report at a later date.
