Runway safety in Canada is under renewed scrutiny after newly released data revealed a sharp increase in incursions at airports across the country. According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), 2024 recorded 639 runway incursions the highest number in the past 15 years raising concerns among aviation authorities despite a decline in the most dangerous incidents.
Runway incursions occur when an aircraft, vehicle, or individual is present on or near a runway without proper authorization. While the overall number has surged, the majority of these incidents were categorized as low severity. Of the total, 487 were deemed minimal risk, 151 involved some risk, and only one incident was classified as high risk. Notably, no extreme-risk incidents have been reported in over a decade.
Experts say this trend reflects a complex reality: while safety systems may be preventing catastrophic events, underlying operational challenges are intensifying. TSB Chair Yoan Marier emphasized that the rise in total incidents remains troubling.
“These are not new problems, but they are becoming more visible as traffic increases,” Marier said. “Addressing them will require consistent effort from both regulators and the aviation industry.”
The data suggests that increased air traffic, staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, and more complicated airport ground operations are contributing to the rise. These pressures have grown steadily since the aviation sector rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic years, runway incursions dropped significantly due to reduced flight activity. Incidents fell from 623 in 2019 to 424 in 2020, before gradually climbing again as travel resumed reaching 639 in 2024.
Further analysis by NAV CANADA indicates that airports with flight training units (FTUs) are particularly prone to incursions. These facilities, which train new pilots, often operate in busy and dynamic environments. The report found that a majority of incursions were concentrated at a small number of airports, many of them linked to training operations.
Although Canada has avoided a major runway collision in recent years, a tragic incident involving a Canadian aircraft abroad has underscored the risks. A collision between an Air Canada Express plane and a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport resulted in the deaths of two pilots and injuries to dozens of passengers and emergency personnel. Investigators are still examining how the vehicle entered the runway despite warnings from air traffic control.
The TSB has long identified runway incursions as a critical safety issue, keeping it on its watchlist since 2010. Despite multiple investigations and recommendations over the years, progress has been slow. A 2019 review of runway operations at Toronto Pearson International Airport, for example, led to four safety recommendations, but only one has been fully implemented so far.
Authorities warn that even a single high-risk incident can lead to catastrophic consequences. As such, the TSB is calling for stronger preventive measures, including improved runway lighting and signage, enhanced training, and wider adoption of advanced monitoring technologies.
The agency also stressed the importance of local safety teams and better coordination between pilots, ground crews, and air traffic controllers.
While Canada’s aviation system remains among the safest globally, officials caution that rising incident numbers should not be ignored. Without decisive action, the margin for error on the country’s runways could narrow further in the years ahead.
