Air Canada Boeing plane catches fire moments after takeoff

US News

By Émilie Grue

Terrifying video shows flames shooting out of an Air Canada Boeing plane as it took off, forcing it to abruptly turn around for an emergency landing.

The filmed terror unfolded after flight AC872 took off from Toronto en route to Paris on Wednesday evening.

“Holy shit!” Someone recording the takeoff gasped as flames shot from the plane's tail just after it left the runway.

“We have an engine fire – holy shit!” » The man gasped as the flames continued to ignite, sometimes seemingly stretching the entire length of the jet as it continued to rise.

The flames came from the plane suffering an unspecified “engine problem” immediately after takeoff with 389 passengers on board, Air Canada said in a statement.

He quickly turned around and made an emergency landing at the Toronto airport, where he was met by firefighters. No injuries were reported.

“After landing, the aircraft was inspected by airport response vehicles in accordance with normal operational processes, and it taxied unaided to the gate,” the airline said.

However, the passengers were reassigned to another flight later that night and the plane was “taken out of service” to be assessed by its maintenance staff and engineers.