An airplane bound for Toronto Pearson Airport was forced to cancel an initial landing attempt to avoid an unauthorized vehicle operated by a "distracted" maintenance employee crossing its path on the runway in 2022, according to investigators from the Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB).

The Communications Monitoring Office issued a report on the incident today, Wednesday, after completing the investigation conducted by the Canadian Transportation Safety Board, an independent federal agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and railway transportation incidents.

According to the report, the incident occurred shortly after midnight on October 15, 2022, when a Boeing 737 aircraft operated by Air Canada was in its final approach to the runway. At the same time, a maintenance vehicle driver belonging to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) crossed the active runway.

The report stated that the driver did so despite having received and read instructions to stay away from the runway.

The air traffic controller noticed the situation as it occurred and was able to instruct the flight crew to cancel the landing attempt mid-procedure.

The report stated that the flight crew complied with the order, and the aircraft landed safely after approaching again.

According to the report, the driver moved onto the runway where "his attention was divided between driving duties and planning for upcoming tasks."

As a result, the driver paid less attention to monitoring the road for hazards."

Also, since the driver had crossed the runway at the displaced threshold several times without stopping, the mental model he developed did not include stopping at the hold position, although he re-read the stop instructions."

When contacted for comment, the GTAA spokesperson said that safety is the authority’s top priority and that it takes all incidents seriously.

The spokesperson said: "Runway incursions are very rare at Toronto Pearson Airport, and we work hard to keep everyone safe at our airport."

Adding, "We are committed to learning from such situations, will review the report in detail, and continue working with the Canadian Transportation Safety Board."

According to the Communications Monitoring Office, this incident illustrates "how a loss of attention, even by an experienced airport maintenance driver, can lead to runway incursions."

The agency has been monitoring runway incursions since 2010.

According to the agency, the aviation industry has made incremental changes to address the risks, "yet despite these improvements, the overall rate of runway incursions continues to rise."

In 2010, the average incursion rate was 5.3 per 100,000 arrivals and departures. By 2021, this number had doubled to an average of 10.7 per 100,000, with 471 recorded incidents.

While the agency says there is no single solution to the risks of such events, cooperation from all sectors of the aviation industry is required to find tailored solutions for each airport.