TORONTO – Emergency crews are at Pearson International Airport after startling reports poured in of debris falling from a plane that had recently taken off from the facility.
Just minutes after the plane departed from Pearson, debris was reported to have fallen in the Kennedy and Derry Roads area in Mississauga, Ont.
Though there were no injuries, Peel Region police are investigating reports of damage caused to businesses and cars.
Air Canada flight 001 was on its way to Narita, Japan and had about 318 passengers and 16 crew on board, Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick told Global News.
The plane took off on schedule at 2:10 p.m. ET and returned to Pearson by 4:03 p.m. ET, where the occupants are being currently being evacuated.
Jason Flick, who was travelling to Japan on business, was on the Air Canada flight and told Global News that it was obvious something had gone wrong.
“So we were taking off, maybe about midway through the ascent, and all of a sudden the air conditioning popped, and we just stopped accelerating, and the plane kept at the exact same incline angle, and then we stayed like that for about 15 minutes,” Flick said.
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An engine shutdown triggered the emergency landing, Fitzpatrick said.
He said pilots train for this “eventuality” often.
“It is unusual, but it’s the kind of thing you do practice,” he said.
Despite the seemingly dangerous conditions, the mood on the plane was quite calm, according to a passenger on the plane, .
“Nobody said anything, no one freaked out on the plane, which was very strange,” Flick said. “And after like 20 minutes… I was getting concerned, but nobody else seemed to be too worried.”
The plane landed normally and the airline is arranging for the passengers to board another flight to their destination either tonight or tomorrow.
He said there have been reports of debris falling from the plane, but he could not confirm these details.
It’s unclear at this point what caused the engine shutdown.
Transport Canada has been called in to investigate the incident.
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