Air Canada 777 Landed After Engine Failure On Takeoff

Reports of debris falling from an airliner Monday afternoon are being investigated by Transport Canada, after several vehicles were damaged on the ground.

The investigation centers on Air Canada Flight 001, which took off from Toronto at 1410 local time Monday, destined for Tokyo's Narita Airport. Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said one of the Boeing 777's engines shut down after takeoff, prompting the flight crew to return to Toronto Pearson International Airport . The plane landed normally, and passengers returned to the gate.

CNN reports that an hour before that people began reporting seeing smoke, and one spotted what may have been debris, coming from a large airliner. Peel Regional Police received  several calls from people reporting vehicles had been damaged by debris falling from the sky. As of about 1630, as many as five such vehicles were being investigated for damage.

A number of vehicles around the parking lot of a Petro-Canada station in Mississauga were damaged, including a Nissan Altima with its back window shattered to pieces while its owner was inside the gas station's convenience store. Pieces of gray, heavy material littered the scene, according to news station CP24. No injuries have been reported on the plane or on the ground, added the spokesman.
 
Fitzpatrick said Monday afternoon that there had been "no confirmation at this time" that debris had fallen from an Air Canada plane. "There will be a full investigation into this incident, as there always is, and that will determine what happened," he said.

FMI: www.tc.gc.ca/eng/air-menu.htm