WestJet plane’s wing filmed clipping catering truck as it pushed back from gate
A WestJet aircraft being towed at Toronto Pearson International Airport clipped a parked catering truck on Tuesday evening. No passengers were on board and nobody was injured; the incident did not disrupt the airport’s schedule.
WestJet said the aircraft’s winglet struck the truck while it was being moved to an overnight parking area. Video showed the truck moving into the wing’s path shortly before contact, and the vehicle tipped slightly; five fire trucks attended. The Transport Safety Board of Canada is gathering information but will not send investigators, as the Boeing aircraft was not intended to fly.
In short
- A WestJet plane clipped a catering truck while being towed.
- No passengers were aboard and no injuries were reported.
- The incident did not affect Toronto Pearson’s schedule.
Explained simply
WestJet is a Canadian airline, and Toronto Pearson is the country’s busiest airport. Aircraft are sometimes moved on the ground by tow vehicles, including between gates and parking areas.
Catering trucks carry food and drink to aircraft and work close to planes at airports. Wings can extend beyond the main body of an aircraft, so ground crews and vehicle drivers must coordinate movements in tight spaces.
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board gathers information about transport incidents and investigates some of them to identify safety lessons. Its role depends partly on the circumstances of an incident, including whether an aircraft was operating as a flight.