Occurrence
On 2 September 2025, an Airbus A220-300 aircraft operated by Air Canada as flight ACA1398 was conducting a scheduled flight from Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport (CYYZ), Ontario, to Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR), New Jersey, United States. The aircraft carried 122 passengers and five crew members. The occurrence took place during the hours of darkness, under clear weather conditions.
As the Airbus A220-300 was accelerating on its take-off roll on Runway 23, a Bombardier Global Express BD-700 aircraft, operated by Bombardier during a production ground test, was taxiing northbound on Runway 33L with two aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs) and one inspector on board. Bombardier had recently relocated its operations from Downsview to Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport.
During taxi, the Bombardier aircraft was observed by ATC to have crossed the hold short line, prompting ATC to instruct the aircraft to hold short. Despite this instruction, the aircraft continued moving toward Runway 23 until ATC issued an urgent instruction to stop. The aircraft came to a full stop well past the hold-short line with its nose approximately 35 feet onto Runway 23. ACA1398 became airborne just before reaching the intersection point.
Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is investigating this occurrence as a class 3 investigation. As of October 2025, the investigation has progressed with the successful recovery of cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) data from both aircraft. Ground radar data and ATC communications were obtained from NAV CANADA. Interviews were conducted with flight crews, the AMEs from both aircraft, and all applicable ATC controllers.
The investigation is ongoing and currently in the examination and analysis phase, where the TSB reviews operating procedures and pertinent records, tests components in the lab, determines the sequence of events, and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.