Crashed jet 'landed too late'

2005-08-03 14:03

Jenny Ginder hugs her daughter Samantha Todd who was a passenger on Air France flight 358 that crashed in Toronto. (Frank Gunn, CP, AP)

Toronto - The Air France jet that skidded off a runway at Toronto's Pearson airport may have landed too late on the runway, Canada's Transport Minister Jean Lapierre was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

"We are told that the plane probably landed a little late, and that's why it's off 200m from the runway," the minister was quoted as saying by the Globe and Mail newspaper which is based in Toronto.

Lapierre said it was a "miracle" that no one was killed in the accident which left the Airbus A340 jet a burning wreck about 200m from the runway. There were about 40 minor injuries among the 309 passengers and crew.

Media reports have speculated about several possible causes. Several witnesses said they saw lightning hit the plane while experts also highlighted poor visibility or the possibility that the jet aquaplaned when the pilot tried to brake.

- AFP