Flight with 133 passengers reports 'locked' flaps on approach to Toronto airport

In a tense but professionally handled situation, an Air Canada Rouge flight carrying 133 passengers was forced to abort its final approach to Toronto Pearson International Airport on March 26 due to a reported flap issue.

The Airbus A319, operating as flight ROU1771 / RV1771 from Bahias de Huatulco International Airport in Mexico, encountered a mechanical issue as it neared its final destination, which prompted quick decision-making from the cockpit.

As the aircraft approached the airport, the flight crew informed air traffic control of a flap issue. A reconstruction of the events was detailed in a video on the aviation YouTube channel, You can see ATC.

"We're gonna need to go around and get some vectors. We just got a flap issue here," the pilot says. However, just a few minutes later, the pilot declared PAN-PAN — a term used in radiotelephone communications to signify that there is an urgency on board a boat, ship, aircraft, or other vehicle. The term is most often used when there is a state of urgency, but not in circumstances when there is an immediate danger to a person's life.

"PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, it's Rouge 1771. We've got the flaps locked at zero here. So we're just running through the checklist. We currently have 133 passengers on board, plus 5 crew, no dangerous goods. Fuel remaining is approximately 60 minutes."

Despite the mechanical hiccup, the aircraft circled over Toronto, reconfigured, and eventually touched down safely on runway 23. Emergency services, including firetrucks, met the aircraft on the runway, and roughly 11 minutes later, it continued to taxi to the gate.

The clear and professional communication between the pilots and the air traffic controllers quickly earned praise from aviation enthusiasts and even passengers on the flight.

"I was on this flight. Great communication by the crew throughout the entire situation. Kudos to all," one passenger wrote under the video.

"Everybody commenting how chill and professional the ATCs aren't lying. I've never heard clearer and more concise aircraft control," another person said.

"Air Canada flight AC1771, an Airbus A319 from Huatulco was on approach to Toronto Pearson on March 26 when the pilot received an indication on the flight deck related to the aircraft's flaps," Air Canada told blogTO in a statement.

"As a precaution the pilot requested priority for landing and the aircraft landed normally. After a brief inspection of the aircraft by first response vehicles on the tarmac, it then taxied to the gate where customers deplaned normally."