Watch: Air Canada Boeing aircraft experiences fire shortly after takeoff, but safely lands

An Air Canada Boeing Flight AC872 narrowly escaped disaster after catching fire mid-air just moments after taking off from Toronto Pearson Airport on the evening of June 5. The Paris-bound aircraft experienced a terrifying ordeal as it ascended from the runway, with a viral video capturing a flash of light from the right engine followed by a small explosion that set the tail of the plane ablaze.

Witnesses on the ground were left in disbelief, with one exclaiming, “Holy crap! It’s got an engine fire!” Fortunately, none of the 400 passengers or crew members on board were injured as the aircrew managed to land the plane safely back at Toronto Pearson Airport. The airline confirmed that the fire was caused by an engine compressor issue.

This incident marks the second such event at Toronto Pearson Airport in less than two weeks, raising concerns about the ongoing maintenance and inspection protocols for Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Air Canada has announced that the affected aircraft will be taken out of service for further evaluation by maintenance and engineering professionals.

Despite the harrowing experience, passengers will be accommodated on another aircraft departing Toronto later that night. The Boeing 777-300ER has been a reliable aircraft for Air Canada since 2008, with 19 of these planes currently in active service. The airline is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its passengers and crew members as investigations into the cause of the engine fire continue.