Air France Aircraft on Fire at Pearson Airport (Toronto) (Update: Minor injuries)

CFRB 1010AM Radio ^ | Aug 2 2005

[mitchbert]

Breaking News from CFRB 1010AM News Radio - Toronto

Airliner on fire on the ground at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Unclear as to cause. Announcers asking for updates from motorists in the region on HWY 401. Report says great deal of smoke. I have to go into a meeting shortly but I'll listen for updates as long as I can.

[Dad yer funny]

yup , I'll never forget that one ,... happened on a weekend,right??

[dfwgator]

Please let it be true that most, if not all, managed to get out.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Sounds more like microburst on landing, plane pushed down hard, hydroplaned and went into a ravine.

Just my guess.

[Strategerist]

Basically what happens in these downbursts is you've got a big slug of air shooting down, that hits the ground and spreads out 360 in all directions to the side; aircraft begins to enter one, faces strong headwind, aircraft begins to rise, so pilot reduces power/drops the nose, then it quickly enters the area where the air is coming straight down, and then the area with a strong tailwind, and it plows into the ground.

[hispanarepublicana]

Thanks goodness. It looks much worse on TV.

[Black Tooth]

Update, A340 airbus, non stop Paris to Toronto, with 200 some odd people on board. Possible crash on landing, into ditch and trees.

AirFrance #358

[mhking]

Are any pictures showing emergency shutes deployed?

No pics of that; we've all been looking at traffic cams from across the 401.

I'm watching CityPulse 24 from Toronto, and they're saying that the plane may not have been able to brake properly on landing, while the expert on the phone is not certain of that.

The plane apparently should have stopped on the grassy area prior to heading into the ditch/ravine/creek bed area.

[eyespysomething]

A guys wife called him from her cell phone. She, and many others, got off the plane. They are holed up under a bridge by the 401.

Good news.

[Heartofsong83]

Not sure, that is possible.

One thing to be fortunate that it did not crash onto Highway 401 - it was the beginning of the afternoon rush hour and that stretch of highway has over 300,000 cars on it every day...

[spectre]

All I can make out are horrific flames and tons of water shooting in the air.

Praying for the 200 plus souls on board..

sw

[Petronski]

FOX: Pilot and co-pilot alive and being debriefed.




huh?

[Rutles4Ever]

That's wonderful. I hope it's not some Howard Stern crank.

[Paleo Conservative]

Passenger jet on fire at Toronto airport

Last Updated Tue, 02 Aug 2005 16:52:51 EDT
CBC News

An Air France jet with as many as 200 people aboard has skidded off a runway at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, bursting into flames and sending thick black smoke pouring into the air.

There is no word on the condition of the passengers and crew members on board the A340, with the plane still burning an hour after the 3:50 p.m. crash.

The Air France jet burst into flames after
skidding off a runway at Toronto's Pearson
Airport Tuesday.

The jet has a capacity of about 200 people.

The airplane was trying to land in bad weather when it skidded off the runway just metres from one of Toronto's busiest roads, Highway 401.

"There was quite a downpour. The visibility was really bad, with lots of lightning," said John Finday, a CBC News journalist who was at the airport at the time of the accident.

The jet crashed through barriers and ended up in a small ravine at the far west end of the airport, the fuselage tipped down and the aircraft's tail in the air.

"An Air France plane landing on runway 2-4 left went off the end of the runway in the area of Convert Drive and the 401 area in Mississauga," Peel police Sgt. Glyn Griffiths said at about 4:30 p.m. "Unknown at the time of any injuries. Flame was seen from the plane. And full response by all emergency vehicles."

The incident happened as most operations at the airport were grounded because of the severe thunderstorms that had been reported in the area.

Rescue crews are on the scene.

[Hand em their arse]

Holy Cow, what a difference in the sky, between 45 minutes ago and now!! Looks like that had to be a helluva thunderstorm...

[Black Tooth]

They said that?

[RadioAstronomer]

bttt for further updates

[Rutles4Ever]

WOW!

[TomGuy]

CNN 'expert' saying wind sheer may be the cause.

[Clemenza]

Is it indeed an A340?

This is terrible.

[mfccinsd]

Close ups have too much heavy smoke to show whether slides deployed, but they aren't visible clearly either.

No, not cargo...Air France Airbus 340 daily Paris/CDG to Toronto flight...

Pilot Co-pilot just reported as being off ALIVE and being 'debriefed' according to Global News that was reporting on FNC just now.