Runway incidents in Canada hit record highs, driven by traffic and staffing shortages, even as high-risk near misses remain rare.
Canadian Runway Incidents Hit Record Levels
Runway safety in Canada is catching more eyes lately and not for the right reasons. Recent data reveals that safety incidents on Canadian runways have reached record highs, even as the number of truly dangerous near misses has levelled off.
According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, runway incursions when a plane, vehicle, or person ends up on or near a runway when they shouldn’t soared to 639 in 2024, the latest year with full statistics.
Close Calls Remain Rare
While the overall number of incidents climbs, high-risk cases situations with a “significant potential for collision,” as defined by Nav Canada have stayed low, averaging about one per year since 2018. This marks a drop from higher numbers in the previous decade.
Still, Yoan Marier, chairman of the Transportation Safety Board, warns that the rising trend in runway incidents is troubling. He points to growing air traffic, a shortage of air traffic controllers, and complex airport layouts as key contributors.
“Toronto Pearson is a very complex operating environment,” Marier said. “There’s a lot happening at once, and pilots unfamiliar with the airport can run into issues. Even an incursion that doesn’t immediately cause a collision is still a serious event.”
Rising Rates Are Alarming
Not only are the raw numbers climbing, but the rate of incursions the share of runway movements that experience an incursion has roughly doubled between 2010 and 2024.
“If traffic increases, you expect more incursions. But what concerns us is the increasing rate,” Marier explained. He has urged improvements in signage, lighting, and technology to help pilots and controllers track runway activity more effectively.
International Incidents Highlight Risk
The issue gained renewed attention after a tragic accident last month at LaGuardia Airport, where an Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck, killing both pilots and hospitalizing over 40 people. The footage showed the jet skidding over 100 metres after impact, underscoring how quickly a runway mishap can turn deadly.
While no similar collisions have occurred in Canada recently, the safety board emphasizes that the risk remains high until stronger protections are implemented.
Close Calls in Canada
Even in Canada, high-stakes moments happen. In February, a Cargojet pilot in Hamilton, Ont., had to perform a high-speed rejected takeoff to avoid hitting three snowplows crossing a runway. The Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into that near miss.
“Runway incursions usually involve communication issues,” said Benoit Gauthier, a former Air Canada pilot. “It’s a very fragile system, in my opinion.”
Staffing Shortages Compound the Problem
Air traffic control shortages have worsened the situation. Nav Canada, the non-profit responsible for air traffic services, estimates a deficit of about 200 controllers. With a lengthy training process of 10–27 months and an aging workforce, replenishing staff is a slow challenge.
In 2023, the International Air Transport Association flagged North American air traffic control shortages for causing “unacceptable delays and disruptions,” highlighting that the problem is far from unique to Canada.
Flying Remains Safe, But Vigilance Is Key
Despite these trends, Marier reassured Canadians that flying remains one of the safest modes of transport. High-risk runway incidents are rare but, as he warned, “it only takes one.”
