A cargo jet carrying Amazon packages came off a runway at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), according to airport officials.
In a statement, Vancouver Airport confirmed that the incident took place on November 19, 2024, at approximately 01:45 local time, when a Cargojet flight operating a Prime Air aircraft overran the eastern boundary of the airport’s North runway. No injuries were reported, and the three-member crew exited the aircraft safely.
The aircraft, a Boeing 767-338, registration C-GAZI, departed from John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) at 00:07 local time and was heading to Vancouver Airport, according to data from FlightRadar24. Its flight path shows that it went 500 meters beyond the end of the runway in Vancouver before stopping.
The Boeing 767 cargo jet reported a “flight control problem” with the leading-edge slats, which help the aircraft fly at lower speeds, just before it skidded off the runway, local media outlet CityNews Vancouver reported on November 19, 2024.
At the time of writing, the runway remains closed, impacting operations and flight schedules. However, aircraft continue to arrive and depart on the airport’s South runway.
“We encourage passengers to check with their airlines for current flight schedules and status before heading to YVR,” airport officials said.
The North Runway remains closed at YVR due to an aircraft incident. This closure will have an impact on YVR operations and flight schedules, but aircraft continue to arrive and depart on our South Runway. More: https://t.co/XVzACLvYM7
— YVR (@yvrairport) November 20, 2024
According to the most recent update published on the airport’s website, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is primarily responsible for the incident site and the airport will recovery work will begin once the TSB releases control.
“More than 50 people from various teams, including representatives from YVR Airport, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), Cargojet, and Air Canada’s heavy aircraft removal crew are collaborating on a strategy to remove the aircraft,” the update continued.
The airport has not given an immediate estimate for how long the work will take but said that the North runway would remain closed for “approximately 48 hours”.