Air Canada Boeing 767 pitch excursion over North Atlantic

No fatalities • Atlantic Ocean, Canada

An Air Canada flight traveling from Toronto to Zurich experienced a sudden loss of altitude during cruise flight.

What happened

On January 14, 2011, at 0655 UTC, an Boeing 767-300, registration C-GHLQ, was operating as Air Canada flight 878 en route from Toronto, Canada, to Zurich, Switzerland. While cruising at 35,000 feet over the North Atlantic Ocean, the aircraft experienced a pitch excursion that resulted in a loss of 300 feet of altitude.

At the time of the event, the seatbelt sign had been activated 41 minutes prior. The incident resulted in 15 injuries, including 13 passengers and two flight attendants. Following the excursion, the crew determined the extent of the injuries and elected to continue the flight to the destination. Upon arrival in Zurich, seven passengers were transported to local hospitals for further medical assessment and observation. The aircraft sustained no damage.

Probable cause

Not provided in the source material.

All Boeing 767-300 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 14 Jan 2011 BOEING 767 accident near Atlantic Ocean, Canada?

An Air Canada flight traveling from Toronto to Zurich experienced a sudden loss of altitude during cruise flight.

Were there any fatalities in the 14 Jan 2011 BOEING 767 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 14 Jan 2011 involved a BOEING 767, operated by Air Canada, at Atlantic Ocean, Canada.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Not provided in the source material.

Loading the flight search…