Runway Incursions Double in Canada, Raising Aviation Safety Alarms
Air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation globally, but a concerning trend is emerging on Canadian runways. According to a 2022 report by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), the number of runway incursions in the country doubled between 2010 and 2021, reaching 471 incidents in the latter year. These events, where aircraft, ground vehicles, or people enter restricted areas on airport pavement, pose significant collision risks that could lead to catastrophic outcomes.
A Close Call at Toronto Pearson Airport
In early September of last year, a potential disaster unfolded at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. An Air Canada Airbus jet carrying 122 passengers and five crew members was accelerating for takeoff when a Bombardier plane on a test run taxied past the designated hold-short line on a nearby runway. Air traffic controllers issued urgent orders to halt the Bombardier, which eventually stopped with its nose protruding 35 feet into the path of the speeding Airbus A-220. The passenger airliner became airborne just before reaching the intersection point, narrowly avoiding a collision.
This incident highlights the growing prevalence of runway incursions, which have long preoccupied safety experts despite being little known among the general public. "Although only a small number of incursions were classified as high-risk, the consequences of a collision could be catastrophic given the potential for injury or loss of life from a single accident," the TSB emphasized in its report.
Rising Risks and Historical Tragedies
The situation in Canada mirrors broader concerns in the aviation industry. In the United States, while overall incursion numbers have stabilized since 2017, the most dangerous close-call incidents appear to be increasing. Jennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, noted at a 2023 roundtable that near-misses are on the rise. She cited an example from Austin, Texas, where a landing FedEx cargo plane and a packed Southwest Airlines jet avoided each other by a mere 115 feet. "Any of these events could've had devastating consequence, could've led to tragedy, to more bereaved families," Homendy warned.
Historical tragedies underscore the severity of these risks. One of the worst aviation disasters occurred in 1977 in the Canary Islands, when a KLM Boeing 747 collided with a Pan Am 747 on the same runway, resulting in 583 fatalities. In 2000, a Singapore Airlines 747 attempted takeoff during a typhoon in Singapore, hitting construction equipment on the runway and killing 83 people.
Recent Efforts and Ongoing Challenges
In response to these dangers, airlines, airports, air traffic control agencies, and other stakeholders have implemented measures to reduce high-risk incursions in Canada. Marcelo Cabral, a safety expert with Nav Canada, wrote in an article for Transport Canada last year that these efforts have yielded some success, but the number of low-risk incidents "remains elevated." This persistent issue suggests that while progress is being made, continuous vigilance and innovation are necessary to safeguard air travel.
The recent crash at La Guardia airport in New York, where an Air Canada Express plane struck an airport fire truck, killing both pilots, serves as a tragic reminder of the potential consequences. As runway incursions continue to rise, the aviation community must prioritize enhanced safety protocols, advanced technology, and rigorous training to prevent future disasters and maintain public trust in air transportation.
