Air Canada Boeing 737 MAX 8 veered off a taxiway and landed on a grassy spot on the ground after landing at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport Thursday afternoon, leading to an emergency response and runway closure, and there were no injuries. All 156 passengers and six crew members of the plane were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported on board.
The aircraft (Flight AC774) from Los Angeles to Montreal landed on runway 06L at about 4 p.m., according to Air Canada. The aircraft left the taxiway as it left the runway and stopped on grass that is near the paved surface.
Emergency services immediately responded and passengers were evacuated from the aircraft and taken to the airport terminal by bus.
All passengers and crew were safe, Air Canada said.
Airport Operations Briefly Disrupted
The incident had Montreal-Trudeau International Airport's emergency coordination center activated, and airport officials briefly closed the North Runway for emergency operations and for an initial investigation.
After closing, the airport still had the remaining runway to allow for both arrivals and departures but at a reduced capacity.
But later the airport confirmed that normal operations have resumed after the affected runway was reopened at around 9:55 p.m. after a review by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB).
The passengers were advised to check the status of their flights although some services were delayed during the evening.
Weather and Taxiway Turn Under Investigation
Preliminary flight-tracking data suggests that the aircraft landed normally on Runway 06L before turning towards Taxiway B1.
The data suggests that the aircraft may have overshot a sharp turn leaving the runway, eventually leaving the paved taxiway and settling down on the grass.
The weather conditions at the airport at the time of the incident were rain and variable winds, but we haven’t yet determined whether weather was involved.
NAV Canada, which controls the country’s air navigation services, said runway availability and weather conditions had led to flight delays for several flights.
Air Canada Boeing 737 MAX 8 veered off the taxiway after landing at Montreal Airport on Thursday, coming to a stop on the grass.
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) July 10, 2026
ADS-B data indicates that the aircraft landed on runway 06L and at a ground speed of 55 knots the aircraft vacated the runway via taxiway B3. It… pic.twitter.com/HJGVuUAhQG
Investigation Launched
Air Canada is investigating in close cooperation with its aviation authorities to determine what caused the aircraft to leave the taxiway, it said.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has also started looking into the incident as part of its standard investigative process.
Officials will review flight data, cockpit communications, airport surveillance footage, weather conditions, and the condition of the taxiway before making any conclusions.
No Injuries Reported
But there was no injury among 162 people on board and the aircraft was evacuated in an orderly manner.
The successful evacuation and quick response to the emergency prevented a far more serious event from occurring.
Air Canada and airport authorities have assured passengers safety is the top priority. The airline has also pledged full cooperation with investigators to establish the circumstances that led to the aircraft leaving the taxiway after landing.
The incident is another reminder that even routine ground movements after landing are closely monitored by aviation authorities and procedures are in place to investigate whenever an aircraft deviates from taxiways or runways, regardless of whether injuries occur.
