A fuel truck driver has been charged with dangerous driving after the vehicle hit a plane at Toronto’s Pearson airport.
Five people were taken to hospital with minor injuries after the truck collided with an Air Canada plane on the tarmac at around 1:36 a.m. Friday morning.
The aircraft was taxiing to its gate, according to a spokeswoman for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, which operates Pearson.
Peel Regional Police told CP24 the truck driver was charged with one count of dangerous driving.
Flight 8615, an Air Canada Express flight operated by Jazz Aviation, was cleared to taxi to the gate after landing when the collision happened, Debra Williams, communications manager for Jazz Aviation said.
“The aircraft came to a full stop and the crew deplaned passengers quickly and they were escorted into the terminal building,” she said.
“EMS arrived to assess passengers and crew. Three crew and two passengers were transported to hospital for further assessment.”
All injured have now been released from hospital.
The aircraft was a Dash 8-300 with 50 passengers and three crew members onboard.
The flight was en route to Sudbury when it was forced to turn back due to fog.
Toronto Pearson International Airport confirmed the incident in a tweet.
“At 1:36a.m. an Air Canada Jazz aircraft came into contact with a Menzies fuel truck while taxiing on the apron,” Toronto Pearson tweeted.
“Airport emergency services responded. Passengers and crew evacuated safely to T1. The aircraft and vehicle were removed and no operational impact at the airport.”
The Transportation Safety Board said Friday it has sent a team of investigators to Pearson to probe the incident.
The extent of damage to the aircraft was not immediately clear.
---- With files from The Canadian Press
