On August 2, 2005, Air France Flight 358, an Airbus A340-313E flying from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Toronto Pearson International Airport, overran the runway during landing and crashed into a ravine at the end of runway 24L. Despite the dramatic nature of the accident, all 309 people on board, 297 passengers and 12 crew members, miraculously survived, although several sustained injuries.
As the aircraft approached Toronto, the weather rapidly deteriorated. A severe thunderstorm was moving across the area, bringing heavy rain, lightning, strong winds, and significantly reduced visibility. The flight crew, led by Captain Alain Rosaye and First Officer Frédéric Naud, decided to continue the approach despite the stormy conditions. Upon landing, the aircraft touched down nearly halfway along the runway, far beyond the optimal touchdown zone. With water pooling on the surface and a tailwind increasing their speed, braking efficiency was severely compromised.
To make matters worse, the thrust reversers, crucial for decelerating the aircraft after touchdown, were not deployed until 12 to 17 seconds after landing, significantly reducing the ability to stop in time. The aircraft skidded off the end of the runway at high speed, plowed through the airport perimeter fence, and plunged into the Etobicoke Creek ravine. The impact broke the aircraft apart and ignited fires in the fuselage.
The crew quickly initiated an emergency evacuation. Despite the chaos and the fact that some slides were damaged or unusable, flight attendants successfully guided all passengers off the aircraft in under 90 seconds. Emergency services, already alerted due to the weather, arrived on the scene within moments, assisting survivors and containing the fire. In the aftermath, 43 people were injured, 12 seriously, but there were no fatalities, a result hailed as miraculous by officials and the aviation community alike.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada launched a detailed investigation, ultimately concluding that poor weather, a delayed decision to go around, a late touchdown, and the slow deployment of thrust reversers were key contributing factors. As a result of the findings, several recommendations were issued to improve safety, including the expansion of runway end safety areas, better pilot training for adverse weather approaches, and enhanced guidance for landing decision-making.
Air France retired flight number 358 after the accident. Today, the incident is widely regarded as a turning point for runway safety and emergency preparedness. It stands as a testament to the professionalism of the crew and the resilience of modern aircraft engineering.
Source: Europeana, Tsb.gc.ca, Aviation Safety Network
Image: SamChui, Tsb.gc.ca
