An Air Canada Boeing 737 Max aircraft had to make an emergency landing shortly after departing from Los Angeles International Airport due to an engine problem on June 5. The plane, carrying 389 passengers and 13 crew, was flying to Vancouver when the incident occurred.
Superb work by the pilots and their air traffic controllers, dealing with a backfiring engine on takeoff. Heavy plane full of fuel, low cloud thunderstorms, repeated compressor stalls. Calm, competent, professional – well done!
Details: https://t.co/VaJeEdpzcn @AirCanada pic.twitter.com/7aOHyFsR29— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) June 7, 2024
Videos showed flames coming from the jet during takeoff, prompting it to return for an emergency landing.
“Air Canada flight 217, a Boeing 737 Max, on a scheduled flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver, experienced an engine issue shortly after take-off. The aircraft landed normally and safely at 12:07 p.m. in Los Angeles,” an Air Canada spokesperson stated.
Air Canada stated that the plane landed safely, with no injuries reported among passengers or crew. Emergency vehicles met the plane as a precautionary measure.
The airline is currently investigating the cause of the engine problem and arranging alternative flights for affected passengers. The aircraft will undergo a thorough inspection by Air Canada’s maintenance personnel and engineering team before being cleared for service again.
This is the second incident within a short period where an Air Canada plane had engine problems shortly after takeoff. The Air Canada Boeing 737 Max has undergone extensive safety reviews and modifications following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 before being allowed to fly again by aviation authorities worldwide.