Jan 13th 2026: An Air Canada Boeing 787-9 operating a long-haul service from New Zealand to Canada was forced to return to Auckland shortly after departure after the flight crew detected an unusual odour in the cockpit.
The aircraft, registered C-FVLX, was performing flight AC-40 from Auckland to Vancouver, British Columbia, carrying 269 passengers and 14 crew. After departing from runway 05R, the aircraft climbed normally before the crew decided to stop the climb at approximately 13,000 feet due to the presence of the odour.
Following standard operating procedures, the pilots elected to discontinue the flight and return to the departure airport. The aircraft landed safely back on runway 05R around 40 minutes after takeoff. No injuries were reported.
Air Canada confirmed that the decision to return was made after the pilots detected an unusual odour in the cockpit shortly after takeoff. As a precaution, the flight was cancelled, and passengers were accommodated on alternative services.
As of approximately 17 hours after landing, the aircraft remained on the ground in Auckland while inspections and troubleshooting were carried out.
Unusual odours in the cockpit or cabin are treated seriously in commercial aviation, as they can indicate potential electrical issues, air system contamination, or other technical anomalies. Crews are trained to respond conservatively, especially during the initial climb phase, when returning to the departure airport is often the safest and most operationally efficient option.
No further details regarding the source of the odour or the scope of maintenance actions had been released at the time of reporting.
