Canada +Plane Crash+

Passenger Jet Skids Off Toronto Runway
Passenger Jet Skids Off Runway in Toronto, Bursting Into Flames; No Word on Casualties
The Associated Press
Aug. 2, 2005 - A passenger jetliner caught fire Tuesday after skidding off a runway at Pearson airport in Toronto. Black smoke billowed from the wreckage as the aircraft burned.

Rescue vehicles rushed to the scene, which was in a wooded area near Highway 401, Canada's busiest highway.

There was no immediate word on casualties.

Police said the plane was an Air France passenger jet that was trying to land when it ran into trouble.


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Air France jet bursts into flames at Toronto?s Pearson airport


Canadian Press


Tuesday, August 02, 2005


TORONTO (CP) - A passenger jet burst into flames after skidding off the runway at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

The type of plane and number of passengers was not immediately available. Smoke billowed from a wooded area near Highway 401, Canada's busiest highway.

Peel police say the craft was an Air France passenger jet that was attempting to land when it ran into trouble.

Sgt. Glyn Griffiths said passengers saw flames from the window but couldn't say whether they had been removed from the plane.

Emergency crews were enroute to the scene.

An Air France A-340 passenger plane burst into flames after apparently skidding off a runway while trying to land in bad weather at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

The craft came to a rest at the edge of Etobicoke Creek, and smoke and flames billowed from the mid-section of the fuselage and near the tail.

Emergency crews raced to the scene in an attempt to rescue any passengers and extinguish the flames. Part of the plane's wing was seen protruding from the trees.

There's no immediate word on how many may have been onboard or whether there are any casualties, but a plane of that size can carry anywhere from 250 to 300 passengers, with 12-15 crew members.

Early reports suggest there may have been 200 people on board, but it's unclear if any or all of them made it off the plane. There's word an unknown number of passengers and the pilot have been taken to hospital.

There were unconfirmed reports that one or two explosions may have occurred.

The plane was a direct non-stop flight from Paris to Toronto.

Pearson International Airport has been plagued by stormy skies all day, as severe thunderstorms struck the G.T.A. Lightning strikes had also been seen in the area.

"An Air France plane landing on runway 2-4 went off the end of the runway (in) the area of Convert Drive and the 401 area in Mississauga," said police Sgt. Glyn Griffiths.

"Unknown at the time of any injuries. Flame was seen from the plane. And full response by all emergency vehicles."

Planes that were supposed to land at Pearson are now being diverted to Ottawa as the situation develops.





August 2, 2005