The cargo door opens during flight
Bob Makin, Glacier Media – January 31, 2023 / 5:27 pm | History: 409201
Photo: @TheGovang/Twitter
Photos and tweets from Randy Gowang, a passenger on an Air Canada flight to Toronto who returned to YVR
The Transportation Safety Board said it is monitoring but not investigating an incident aboard an Air Canada flight that happened early Monday afternoon.
Flight 114 from Vancouver to Toronto returned safely to YVR after a sudden change in atmospheric pressure. The pilot informed the passengers that the cargo door was open and assured them that the situation was under control.
According to Flightaware.com, AC114 departed 35 minutes late at 12:30 p.m. and returned at 1:08 p.m. after flying a figure eight. The aircraft took off for Blaine, Washington, then made a sharp turn to Tsawwassen and headed west over Gabriola Island, before another sharp turn south over Nanaimo and a turn east over Galliano Island back to YVR.
“Someone didn’t fasten the cargo door properly and it opened during takeoff,” tweeted passenger Randy Gowang. “The flight had depressurized and we had to circle to reduce fuel to land back in Vancouver.”
Air Canada’s media relations office denied the door had been opened. He blamed the incident on a gate indication signal the pilots received.
“At no time was the door open while the aircraft was in the air,” the airline said in a statement. “Passengers were re-arranged for other flights, all disembarked yesterday. The aircraft was shut down so technicians could complete a sensor replacement, it returned to service after final checks were completed.
Transport Safety Board (TSB) spokesman Liam McDonald said the independent agency had not sent investigators as it was not required to investigate all reported incidents.
“The TSB may initiate an investigation if new safety lessons are likely to be identified to improve transport safety,” McDonald said. “Mechanical problems that do not result in a crash, injury or death are generally classified as Class 5 events.”
According to the TSB’s event classification policy, incidents rated five on the six-point scale are not subject to full investigation and reporting. However, data is collected and recorded for statistical reporting and future analysis.
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