A tense landing at Montreal–Trudeau International Airport on Thursday ended without injuries after an Air Canada Boeing 737 MAX veered off the paved surface while exiting the runway, triggering a temporary runway closure and widespread flight delays.
Air Canada Flight AC774 had just completed its journey from Los Angeles when the incident occurred at approximately 4:00 p.m. local time. According to the airline, the aircraft landed normally before experiencing a runway excursion while exiting the main runway, traveling onto the grassy area adjacent to the pavement.
The Boeing 737 MAX was carrying 156 passengers and six crew members. Air Canada confirmed that there were no injuries among those onboard.
One passenger, Barbara Edelston Peterson, described the frightening moments after touchdown. She said heavy rain was falling as the aircraft landed and immediately sensed something was wrong.
“We were going very fast and suddenly there was a big smoke smell, and the next thing I knew, we were tumbling on the grass,” she recalled. She added that smoke, dirt, and grass covered her window, leaving passengers unable to see what was happening outside. Many onboard feared the worst, uncertain whether the aircraft might catch fire or explode.
Passengers remained on the aircraft for nearly three hours before airport buses transported everyone safely to the terminal. Despite the stressful situation, Peterson praised the cabin crew, calling them a “class act” for keeping passengers calm and managing the evacuation professionally.
Following the incident, the aircraft was removed from service and will undergo a comprehensive inspection at an Air Canada maintenance hangar.
The runway involved in the incident—one of two at Montreal–Trudeau International Airport—was temporarily closed, affecting airport operations throughout the evening. Domestic and international flights experienced delays averaging around 30 minutes, while flights to the United States faced delays ranging from 45 minutes to an hour. Airport officials confirmed that no flights were cancelled because of the incident.
The runway reopened shortly before 10:00 p.m., although airport authorities continued advising travelers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport.
Nav Canada implemented several air traffic management measures, including a temporary ground stop and flow restrictions, to safely manage arriving and departing aircraft. Officials also noted that adverse weather conditions in the Montreal area added to the operational challenges.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has launched an investigation into the runway excursion. Investigators are being deployed to examine the aircraft, review weather conditions, flight data, airport operations, and other factors that may have contributed to the incident.
Although runway excursions can appear dramatic, they often have multiple contributing factors, including weather, braking performance, runway conditions, and aircraft handling. The TSB’s investigation will determine the exact sequence of events and identify whether any safety recommendations are necessary.
