Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has launched a formal investigation after an Air Canada Boeing 737 MAX 8 left a taxiway and entered a grassy area at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport. The incident involved Flight AC774, which had arrived from Los Angeles with 156 passengers and six crew members on board.
Air Canada confirmed that everyone on the aircraft was safe and no injuries were reported. Even so, the unexpected ground excursion has raised questions about what caused the aircraft to leave the paved surface and whether the response after the incident followed appropriate safety procedures.
Investigators are now working to determine exactly what happened from the moment the aircraft landed until passengers finally exited the airplane.
What Happened
According to Air Canada, Flight AC774 had completed its journey from Los Angeles and was taxiing at Montréal–Trudeau Airport when the aircraft moved off the designated taxiway and came to a stop on a grassy section beside the pavement.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was unable to continue moving under its own power after leaving the paved surface.
Airport emergency services responded to the scene, while airline staff coordinated assistance for passengers.
Although the aircraft remained upright and stable, the event triggered standard safety protocols that require both airline and federal reviews.
No Injuries Reported
Air Canada stated that all 156 passengers and six crew members were unharmed.
The airline thanked emergency responders and airport personnel for assisting after the aircraft stopped.
While no medical emergencies were reported, the incident remains significant because even low-speed ground excursions can result in damage that is not immediately visible.
Investigators will carefully inspect the aircraft before it is cleared to return to service.
Questions Over Delay
One aspect of the incident has attracted particular attention—the reported three-hour period passengers remained inside the aircraft before they were able to leave.
Aviation expert John Gradek, who teaches aviation management at McGill University, described the reported timeline as concerning.
He noted that aircraft are designed to support rapid passenger evacuation whenever safety conditions require it. Although every situation is different, he suggested that investigators should carefully examine why passengers remained onboard for such an extended period after the aircraft became immobilized.
Gradek emphasized that understanding the decision-making process will be an important part of the overall investigation.
Safety Concerns
According to aviation specialists, an aircraft that has left a paved taxiway may present unknown risks until a complete inspection is performed.
Possible concerns include hidden structural damage, landing gear issues, fuel system problems or other mechanical conditions that may not be immediately visible from the flight deck.
Because of these uncertainties, safety experts often recommend minimizing unnecessary exposure whenever practical.
Gradek explained that once an aircraft can no longer move under its own power, operators must balance passenger safety, airport conditions and emergency response capabilities when deciding whether to begin an evacuation.
Why Evacuations Matter
Commercial aircraft are built with multiple emergency exits and evacuation procedures that allow passengers to leave quickly when necessary.
International certification standards require aircraft manufacturers to demonstrate that a fully occupied aircraft can be evacuated within approximately 90 seconds using half of the available exits under test conditions.
Flight attendants receive extensive recurrent training to prepare for these situations.
However, every real-world event presents unique circumstances, including weather, aircraft position, terrain, nearby traffic and the possibility of additional hazards.
Those factors will likely form part of the investigation into why passengers remained onboard for several hours.
TSB Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board has deployed investigators to Montréal to examine every aspect of the occurrence.
Their work includes interviewing the flight crew, reviewing maintenance records, inspecting the aircraft and collecting operational data.
Investigators will also analyze information recorded by the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder.
These devices provide valuable information about aircraft performance, pilot actions, system alerts and communications during the incident.
Officials have stressed that no conclusions will be drawn until all evidence has been thoroughly examined.
Every Factor Reviewed
Aviation investigations begin without assumptions.
TSB investigators routinely evaluate a wide range of possible contributing factors, including weather conditions, aircraft systems, airport surface conditions, communications with air traffic control and human decision-making.
Experts say this methodical process helps identify not only what happened but also whether broader safety improvements could reduce the likelihood of similar incidents in the future.
Even seemingly minor runway or taxiway excursions receive detailed analysis because they can reveal important operational lessons.
Air Canada Review
Alongside the federal investigation, Air Canada has opened its own internal review.
Airlines commonly conduct parallel examinations following operational incidents to identify any procedural improvements, training opportunities or maintenance issues that may require attention.
The airline has pledged to cooperate fully with the Transportation Safety Board throughout the investigation.
Any recommendations arising from either review could contribute to future safety enhancements across the airline’s operations.
What Happens Next
The damaged aircraft will remain under examination while investigators continue collecting evidence.
The Transportation Safety Board is expected to reconstruct the sequence of events using flight recorder data, crew interviews, maintenance documentation and airport operational records.
At this stage, authorities have not identified a specific cause for the taxiway excursion.
The investigation will determine whether environmental conditions, aircraft systems, operational procedures or a combination of factors contributed to the incident.
Although everyone onboard reached safety without injury, the event serves as a reminder that even ground movements require careful coordination and continuous attention. The findings from the investigation are expected to provide valuable insights that could strengthen aviation safety procedures in Canada and beyond.