Investigation underway after two planes clip wings at Pearson airport

An investigation is underway following an incident involving two planes on the ground at Pearson International Airport on Saturday night.

A spokesperson with Air Canada confirms flight AC1713 from Punta Cana was pulling up to the gate around 10:30 p.m. when it clipped wings with a LOT Polish Airlines flight which was stationary.

There were 286 people aboard the Air Canada Rouge flight but no injuries were reported. However, both aircraft suffered extensive damage as a result of the incident.

CityNews viewer Fadia Atallah who was on the Air Canada flight says at first, the plane barely touched the LOT aircraft. But then it moved forward again and cut through the wing.

“I thought I was dreaming,” said the passenger. “It was like a knife going through a piece of meat.”

Atallah added they waited 30 minutes before being allowed to leave the aircraft and it was another 45 minute wait for their baggage before being told their luggage would be delivered to them at their homes.

Swissport, which provides ground crew services for LOT at Pearson, says the Polish airline was “properly parked at the adjacent gate” when it was hit by the Air Canada plane.

Air Canada does not use ground services supplied by Swissport.

Currently 700 unionized employees for Swissport are on strike and the company is using replacement workers, an issue that the union says is leading to unsafe conditions for airlines and travellers.

“We would like the reassure travellers that anyone working for or on behalf of Swissport receives standardized safety and job specific training,” said spokesperson Pierre Payette. “We regret that the union is using this incident to suggest otherwise.”

A spokesperson for the Transportation Safety Board says they have been notified but have not formally launched an investigation. Chris Krepski says they are following up with both the GTAA and both airlines to gather more information before deciding on the next steps.