In a challenging turn of events, passengers aboard Air Canada flight AC698 destined for St. John’s found themselves back in Toronto after a prolonged attempt to land earlier this week. The flight, which embarked on its journey on February 5th, encountered unexpected and severe crosswinds near St. John’s International Airport, leading to multiple unsuccessful landing attempts and ultimately, a decision to return to its point of departure.
Air Canada confirmed the incident, highlighting that the flight was in the air for approximately seven hours—significantly longer than the typical duration of a little over three hours for this route. The airline’s spokesperson emphasized safety as the paramount consideration behind the decision to turn back. “This was based on several factors. First, safety is and will always be our prime consideration, this is something customers also fully agree with,” the spokesperson stated, citing severe winter weather conditions across Atlantic Canada as a complicating factor.
FlightAware.com, a flight tracking website, documented the flight’s path, showing the aircraft making numerous circles around St. John’s International Airport in an attempt to find a safe landing window, before eventually heading back to Toronto. The total airtime for AC698 was recorded at six hours and 37 minutes.
The airline stood by the pilot’s decision to return to Toronto Pearson International Airport, indicating it as the “correct decision” given the circumstances. Air Canada prepares for such weather-related eventualities by ensuring flights are equipped with extra fuel, underscoring the airline’s commitment to safety and preparedness.
For the passengers, many of whom were from Toronto, the return to Pearson airport was deemed the best option, especially considering the late hour and the difficulty of securing accommodations. Air Canada reassured that the primary consideration throughout the ordeal was to maintain safety, a sentiment that aligns with the airline’s longstanding safety protocols and customer service policies.
This incident comes amid a period of increased scrutiny on airline operations, with recent discussions on accessibility services and flight delays. Air Canada’s handling of the situation reflects its adherence to safety standards and its response to unforeseen weather challenges, ensuring passengers’ well-being remains at the forefront of operational decisions.
2/6/24 | #NLwx | The crew on @AirCanada flight 698 did all they could to try and land early this morning in St. John’s, but the winds proved too high! They tried 3 times to land and ultimately had to fly back to Toronto.
They took off at 9:43 PM EST and landed back in Toronto… pic.twitter.com/DslYKg5AK1
— Eddie Sheerr (@EddieSheerr) February 6, 2024