What happened
On 9 August 2019, an Air Georgian Limited Bombardier CRJ 200, registered C-GKEJ, was preparing for a flight from Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Ontario, to John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Ohio, United States. During the taxi phase, the tower controller directed the crew to line up on Runway 33R.
Simultaneously, an Air Canada Boeing 777-300, registered C-FIUR, was arriving from Copenhagen/Kastrup Airport, Denmark. The Boeing 777 landed on Runway 33L and proceeded to taxi onto Taxiway H. The north ground controller issued instructions for the Boeing 777 to cross Runway 33R. As the larger aircraft was in the process of crossing the runway, the crew of the Bombardier CRJ 200 initiated its takeoff roll without receiving the necessary clearance.
Upon observing the Boeing 777 appearing over the runway crest, the CRJ 200 crew performed an aborted takeoff and vacated the runway via Taxiway B2. The incident occurred during the day under visual meteorological conditions. There were no injuries and no aircraft damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of movements on the airfield and the communications between the air traffic controllers and the flight crews. Investigators examined the instructions provided by the north ground controller regarding the crossing of Runway 33R and the subsequent takeoff roll of the CRJ 200.