Shortly after takeoff in Canada, an electrical fire broke out in the cockpit, forcing an aircraft heading for New York City to turn back. The 74-passenger Endeavor Air regional plane was en route from Toronto, Canada’s Pearson Airport, to Queens, New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, when the tragedy happened. A “mayday” emergency was called by the pilot, who urgently asked for permission to return to the airfield from which they had just taken off. After reporting that the captain’s side windshield heater seemed to have flared, the aircraft crew called for rescue vehicles to meet them on the ground.
The aircraft made a successful touchdown and came to a safe halt on the runway before being examined.
Transcripts of the pilot’s frantic calls for assistance showed the grave and perhaps fatal situation. The flight deck crew of Endeavor Air showed how safety is fundamental to their work by responding calmly and efficiently. Technicians subsequently replaced the windshield and windshield heating unit, and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) and U.S. aviation agencies were informed of the event.
You Can See ATC is a YouTube channel featuring pilots’ stories of odd or emergency circumstances during flights, including equipment breakdowns or onboard fights. The audio tape of the incident that happened on February 3 was uploaded on the channel. One video on the site has garnered over 69,000 views.
One hundred thirty-three individuals have commented on a video of an aircraft catching fire, with many lauding the pilot’s composure and the assistance from air traffic control for their fast thinking and composure under pressure. Everyone, including the ground crew, has to be on their game and not waste words when using the situation as instructional material.
Throughout the incident, everyone on board—including the ATC, crew, and rescue team—maintained a professional demeanor.
There has been an upsurge in reports of near-misses, fatal collisions, and extreme turbulence, and this occurrence comes on top of that. According to experts, air travel in the United States is still considered safe and statistically safer than driving.