An Air Canada Boeing 737 MAX 8 veered off a taxiway after landing at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport on Thursday, briefly disrupting airport operations. The aircraft came to a stop on a grassy area after exiting the taxiway, but all 156 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated without any injuries.

The aircraft was operating Flight AC774 from Los Angeles to Montreal. It landed on Runway 06L at around 4 p.m. before leaving the taxiway while exiting the runway. Emergency teams responded immediately, and passengers were transported to the terminal by bus.

Air Canada confirms safe evacuation

In a statement, Air Canada said the aircraft “exited the taxiway” after landing and came to rest on the grass. The airline also confirmed that all passengers and crew members reached the terminal safely.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what caused the aircraft to leave the taxiway.

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North runway temporarily closed

The incident prompted Montréal-Trudeau International Airport to activate its Emergency Coordination Centre. As emergency personnel responded, the airport temporarily shut its North Runway to facilitate evacuation procedures and operational assessments.

Despite the closure, flights continued using the airport’s remaining runway, allowing arrivals and departures to proceed, although schedules were affected.

Airport officials later confirmed that normal operations had resumed. However, some flights continued to experience delays after the runway reopened.

Flight delays reported after runway incident

NAV Canada advised travellers that reduced runway availability, combined with weather conditions in the area, could lead to delays.

Airport authorities also urged passengers to check the latest status of their flights as operations gradually returned to normal.

According to a spokesperson for Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, quoted by CTV News, the North Runway reopened at 9:55 p.m. following an investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

Investigation underway into taxiway excursion

Flight tracking data showed that Flight AC774 landed on Runway 06L before turning toward Taxiway B1. The aircraft appeared to overshoot a sharp turn while attempting to enter the parallel taxiway.

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Rain and variable winds were reported at Montréal around the time of the incident, though officials have not identified any cause.

Air Canada said it is carrying out a detailed investigation in coordination with the relevant authorities. The findings are expected to determine the circumstances that led to the taxiway excursion.

FAQs:

Why did the Air Canada plane veer off the taxiway in Montreal?

The exact cause is under investigation by Air Canada and Canadian authorities.

Were there any injuries in the Air Canada Montreal taxiway incident?

No, all 156 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated without injuries.