What happened
On 28 January 2019, an Embraer ERJ 170-200, registered as C-FEJB, was performing a scheduled flight from Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. During the takeoff roll on Runway 06L, the flight crew was forced to reject the takeoff due to a runway incursion.
At approximately 13:48 Eastern Standard Time, the aircraft was departing amidst snowy weather. Simultaneously, a convoy of four snow removal vehicles was traveling southbound on Taxiway E. Although the ground controller had directed the vehicles to turn left onto Taxiway C, the drivers instead turned onto Taxiway C2, heading toward the active runway. Three of these vehicles proceeded past the designated holding position. The ground controller issued an immediate stop order, and the vehicles halted just before reaching the runway surface. The tower controller notified the crew of flight SKV7665, prompting the pilot to abort the takeoff. The aircraft stopped safely before Taxiway C2, and there were no injuries or damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the movement of the ground vehicles and the visibility conditions at the time of the incident. Investigators examined the instructions provided by the ground controller and the subsequent actions of the vehicle operators. The probe also looked into the tracking data and visibility levels that influenced the controllers' ability to monitor the taxiway movements.