Runway overrun
Flair Airlines flight FLE501
Boeing 737-800
Kitchener/Waterloo Airport , Ontario, CYKF
The occurrence
A Flair Airlines Ltd. Boeing 737-800 was conducting a flight from Vancouver International Airport, British Columbia, to the Kitchener/Waterloo Airport, Ontario, with 6 crew and 134 passengers on board. Following touchdown, the flight crew encountered some directional control issues, and the aircraft did not decelerate as expected. The aircraft overran the end of the runway by approximately 500 feet and came to rest in the mud. There was some minor damage observed on the left engine of the plane, however there was no observed damage to the landing gear. The crew and passengers did not sustain any injuries.
Investigation information
A22O0161
Runway overrun
Flair Airlines flight FLE501
Boeing 737-800
Kitchener/Waterloo Airport , Ontario, CYKF
Investigator-in-charge
Jon Douma is a Senior Regional Investigator - Operations with the Ontario Region of the Air Investigations Branch. He joined the TSB in 2019 following 12 years in the business aviation sector, where he flew multiple jet and turboprop types and operated throughout North America, the Caribbean, and Eastern and Western Europe.
Prior to business aviation, he spent several years as a flight instructor, and has maintained an interest in general aviation since then, building and flying multiple amateur-built aircraft with his grandfather.
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 2 investigation. These investigations are complex and involve several safety issues requiring in-depth analysis. Class 2 investigations, which frequently result in recommendations, are generally completed within 600 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.