Newly released audio recordings from air traffic control shed light on the dramatic moments leading up to a small plane’s emergency landing in a Toronto park earlier this week. The pilot’s calm alert about a possible engine failure quickly escalated into a tense exchange with the tower operators as they tried to find a safe landing spot for the aircraft carrying three people. Despite the pilot’s increasing urgency, she managed to skillfully bring the plane down in a park in Toronto’s east end, narrowly avoiding homes and a sports field. Fortunately, all occupants walked away unharmed.
The aircraft, confirmed to be a Canadian-registered Piper Cherokee from the rental company Flight Club, had departed from Orillia and was headed to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport before encountering engine issues. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is currently investigating the incident to determine the cause of the engine failure and applauds the pilot’s quick decision-making in ensuring a safer outcome.
Witnesses at the scene, including David Sydney-Cariglia, described the harrowing moments as the plane descended towards the ground, ultimately making a loud crash landing in a soccer field near Bloor Street. Emergency crews swiftly responded, and officials credit the pilot’s ability to locate an open space for preventing a potentially more severe incident.