Incident Sequence
On July 7, 2017, at approximately 2356 Pacific daylight time, Air Canada Flight 759, an Airbus A320-211 with Canadian registration C-FKCK, was conducting an international scheduled passenger flight from Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Canada, to San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, California. The flight operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 129 and had filed an instrument flight rules flight plan. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.
The flight crew was cleared to land on runway 28R. However, the aircraft lined up with parallel taxiway C instead. At that time, four air carrier airplanes were on taxiway C awaiting clearance for takeoff from runway 28R. The lineup of airplanes on the taxiway consisted of a Boeing 787, an Airbus A340, another Boeing 787, and a Boeing 737.
The incident airplane descended to an altitude of 100 feet above ground level and overflew the first airplane on the taxiway. The flight crew then initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane reached a minimum altitude of about 60 feet above ground level and overflew the second airplane on the taxiway before beginning to climb.
Occupants and Damage
Aboard the incident airplane were 5 flight crewmembers and 135 passengers. None of the occupants were injured, and the incident airplane was not damaged.
Regulatory Context
The flight was operated by Air Canada under 14 CFR Part 129, which governs foreign air carrier operations in the United States. The flight was a scheduled international passenger service from Toronto to San Francisco.