Canada Has Faced Several Emergency Landings Across Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Newark: New Reports Unveil Shocking Details

Flights to and from Canada experienced numerous emergency landing incidents between January 2022 and January 2026. This chronicle draws on news reports and aviation records and is written in third‑person passive voice. The aim is to document the causes and outcomes of each emergency landing and to show how often crews were compelled to seek one. This summary emphasises the breadth of incidents and the need for vigilance, and this article emphasises urgency for aviation safety[1][2].

Instrument and Sensor Failures

Air Canada faced several instrument and sensor problems in 2022. Flight AC120 from Vancouver to Toronto experienced an air‑speed indication fault and an emergency landing was requested[1]. Later that year flight AC1072 from Denver to Montreal made a PAN‑PAN call because of a cracked cockpit window and diverted for an emergency landing[2]. Another flight to Newark recorded unreliable air‑speed and landed in Winnipeg[3]. A cargo 767 between Bogotá and Toronto continued at lower altitude after its windshield cracked and performed an emergency landing[4]. These episodes demonstrate how sensor failures and glass defects repeatedly led to an emergency landing.

Smoke and Fumes Incidents

Smoke and fumes triggered multiple emergency landings. Flight AC447 from Ottawa to Toronto in 2023 filled with smoke due to a faulty pack and landed in Toronto[5]. A cargo flight from Atlanta to San Juan in 2024 reported an odour and declared Mayday before an emergency landing[6]. Rouge flight AC1702 from Las Vegas in 2025 diverted to Des Moines with smoke[7]. Later that year flight AC1038 from Denver detected an acrid smell, declared PAN‑PAN and returned to Denver for an emergency landing and evacuation[8]. In January 2026 a Dreamliner from Auckland dumped fuel and returned for an emergency landing after detecting an unusual odour[9]. These incidents show how quickly crews must respond when fumes appear.

Hydraulic and Landing‑Gear Failures

Hydraulic leaks and landing‑gear malfunctions dominated 2024. Flight AC819 from Venice lost nose‑wheel steering and diverted to Dublin[10]. AC42 from Toronto to Delhi experienced system warnings, dumped fuel and returned to Toronto[11]. AC1162 departing Fort McMurray displayed a gear‑fail alert and diverted to Edmonton[12]. Dash 8 flight 2259 skidded off Halifax’s runway when its gear collapsed; sparks and a wing fire erupted but only minor injuries occurred[13]. Each episode concluded with an emergency landing.

Engine and Pressurization Issues

Engines and pressurization systems caused several emergencies. A WestJet turboprop from Kamloops to Calgary in March 2023 saw flames from its right engine and made an emergency landing in Kelowna[14]. In October 2025 WestJet flights WS‑707 and WS‑310 shut down engines due to power loss or low oil and diverted to Vancouver and Calgary[15][16]. Delta flight 135 from Amsterdam diverted to Happy Valley‑Goose Bay in December 2023 because of a mechanical issue[17]. Pressurization problems on WJA2251 from Puerto Vallarta and WS‑131 from Calgary triggered oxygen masks and rapid descents before safe emergency landings[18][19]. These cases demonstrate how engine failures and cabin pressure loss force crews into emergency landings.

Behaviour and Medical Emergencies

Human factors also caused emergency landings. In February 2024 WestJet flight WS‑710 diverted to Winnipeg after a passenger tried to open an exit[20]. Later that spring a Terrace–Calgary flight returned because of another unruly passenger[21]. Air Canada flights AC870 and AC1705 in May 2025 diverted to St John’s and Chicago due to disruptive passengers[22][23]. Medical issues also triggered emergency landings: flight AC2 from Tokyo to Toronto landed in Yellowknife for urgent care, and a WestJet Dreamliner to London diverted to Heathrow when a passenger required medical attention[24][25]. These examples show that behaviour and health can be as decisive as mechanical faults.

Crashes and Long Diversions

A handful of events highlight the extremes of emergency landings. On 17 February 2025 Delta flight 2123 from Minneapolis flipped while landing in snowy winds at Toronto, injuring 18 people[26]. Long diversions also tested travellers: Delta flight 135 in December 2023 diverted to Goose Bay and passengers were stranded for nearly a day[17]. SAS flight SK910 in November 2025 diverted to the same base after a technical irregularity and passengers waited almost 22 hours for a replacement plane[27]. These extremes range from near‑catastrophic crashes to long, cold waits.

Patterns and Lessons

Throughout this period emergency landings were reported frequently. Instrument and window problems showed the need for robust checks and redundancy[2]. Smoke and odour incidents emphasised maintenance and rapid response[8]. Hydraulic and gear failures revealed mechanical complexity[12]. Engines and pressurization systems required continuous monitoring and crew training[14][18]. Human factors and weather added unpredictability[20][26]. Every emergency landing thus becomes a lesson for regulators and airlines.

Category Table of Emergency Landings (Jan 2022 – Jan 2026)

Improved data sharing and cross‑carrier cooperation could help reduce future emergency landings. Victims and families demanded inquiries into the crash and called for improved runway de‑icing and wind shear detection and accountability.

Category	Key flights & years	Notes
Instrument or sensor failure	AC120 2022, AC1072 2022, AC584 2022, AC7261 2022	Airspeed or window issues triggered an emergency landing[1][2]
Smoke and fumes	AC447 2023, AC7220 2024, AC1702 2025, AC1038 2025, AC40 2026	Smoke or odours prompted emergency landings[5][7]
Hydraulic or gear failure	AC819 2024, AC42 2024, AC1162 2024, AC2259 2024	Steering or gear faults led to emergency landings[10][13]
Engine troubles	WS‑Encore fire 2023, WS‑707 2025, WS‑310 2025, Delta 135 2023	Fires or power loss caused emergency landings[14][17]
Pressurization	WJA2251 2023, WS‑131 2024	Cabin pressure loss resulted in emergency landings[18][19]
Passenger behaviour & medical	WS‑710 2024, WS Terrace 2024, AC870 2025, AC1705 2025, AC2 2025, WS Dreamliner 2025	Disruptive passengers or medical needs led to emergency landings[20][24]
Major accidents/diversions	Delta 2123 2025, Delta 135 2023, SAS SK910 2025	Crash or long diversion required emergency landings[26][27]

The post Canada Has Faced Several Emergency Landings Across Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Newark: New Reports Unveil Shocking Details appeared first on Travel And Tour World.