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Fatal Events Since 1970 for Air Canada

The following events are those involving at least one passenger death where the aircraft flight had a direct or indirect role. Excluded would be events where the only passengers killed were stowaways, hijackers, or saboteurs.

1. 5 July 1970; Air Canada DC8-63; Toronto, Canada: The aircraft was approaching for a normal landing when its descent rate increased shortly before touchdown, possibly due to the premature deployment of the ground spoilers. The crew attempted to recover, and the number four engine struck the runway and broke away. The aircraft was able to climb after losing the engine, but after several explosions the number three engine and part of the right wing separated when the aircraft was at about 3,000 feet (910 meters). The aircraft subsequently crashed, killing all nine crew members and 100 passengers.

2. 26 June 1978; Air Canada DC9-32; Toronto, Canada: The aircraft had a rejected takeoff after a tire burst. Tire debris was ingested into engine two, causing compressor stalls. Two of the 102 passengers were killed after the aircraft overran the runway.

3. 3 June 1983; Air Canada DC9-32; Near Cincinnati, OH: The aircraft had an in flight cabin fire that led to an emergency landing. Of the 41 passengers, 23 were killed as a result of the fire and smoke.

   23 July 1983; Air Canada 767; near Gimli, Manitoba: The aircraft ran out of fuel after the crew miscalculated the weight of fuel onboard. The aircraft made an emergency landing on an abandoned airfield. There were no serious injuries. This was not a fatal event as defined by AirSafe.com.

   16 December 1997; Air Canada CRJ-100ER; Fredericton, Canada: The aircraft was on a scheduled domestic flight from Toronto to Fredericton. Visibility at the arrival airport was limited by heavy fog. After the crew disconnected the autopilot shortly before touchdown, they attempted to abort the landing. The aircraft stalled and crashed during the attempted go-around. The aircraft contacted the ground to the left of the runway, crossed the runway, became briefly airborne after striking a ditch to the right of the runway, and finally came to rest after striking some trees. The aircraft was destroyed, but none of the three crew or 39 passengers were killed. This was not a fatal event as defined by AirSafe.com.

   10 January 2008; Air Canada A319; near Cranbrook, Canada: The aircraft was on a scheduled domestic flight from Victoria, BC to Toronto, ON. The aircraft had a possible encounter with moderate to severe turbulence while in the vicinity of the Canadian Rockies. The crew diverted to Calgary, where injured passengers and crew members were treated for minor injuries. The aircraft was not seriously damaged, and there were no fatalities among the five crew members or 83 passengers. This was not a fatal event as defined by AirSafe.com, and was included because of the significant media coverage generated by the event.

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   Related Resources: Turbulence Risks

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