On August 2, 2005,
Air France Flight 358
, an Airbus A340, experienced a violent runway excursion while attempting to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport during a severe thunderstorm. The flight originated from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
The crew encountered heavy rain and lightning during the approach, and a plane landing ahead of them reported poor braking action on the runway. The crew decided to land on Runway 24L, the airport’s shortest runway.
Further complicating matters, during the approach, the pilot flying added thrust, increasing the plane’s energy and causing it to deviate above the intended flight path. A tailwind also developed, further increasing the aircraft’s speed. Due to these factors and poor visibility caused by the heavy rain, the aircraft touched down significantly further down the runway than normal.
The pilots were slow to deploy the thrust reversers, used to aid braking, further reducing the aircraft’s ability to stop. Consequently, the plane overran the runway, crashing into the Etobicoke Creek ravine at a speed of 148 km/h (80 knots; 92 mph) and subsequently caught fire.
Incredibly, all 309 passengers and crew members on board survived, earning the event the nickname “The Miracle in Toronto”. Two crew members and ten passengers sustained serious injuries, but there were no fatalities.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigated the accident and concluded that a combination of unfavorable weather conditions and poor landing decisions by the flight crew were the major contributing factors.
