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Radar Fault at Toronto Pearson Triggers Nationwide Flight Shutdown

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Friday, November 7th 2025 at 13:57 GMT by Channel 3000
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What Triggered the Shutdown?

The immediate cause of the outage was a technical fault identified in the legacy radar suite at Toronto Pearson International Airport, the country’s largest hub. Engineers discovered that one of the primary transponders was intermittently misreading aircraft positions, a flaw that could potentially compromise situational awareness for pilots and controllers. To eliminate the risk, Air Traffic Services Canada (ATSC) opted for a full system shutdown, followed by a planned, phased re‑commissioning.

ATSC’s chief communications officer, Linda McCarthy, said the decision was made after consulting with the Canadian Aviation Safety Office and industry stakeholders. “Safety is our paramount concern. Even a brief lapse in radar integrity can lead to cascading operational problems. We had to act decisively to secure the airspace,” McCarthy told reporters at the press briefing.

The same technical issues have prompted brief, localized outages at Montreal‑Trudeau and Vancouver International airports. While those disruptions were less extensive, they compounded the impact on the national network.

How Travelers Are Feeling the Pain

In the immediate aftermath, airlines announced a 30‑percent reduction in scheduled departures across the affected airports, a figure that has climbed to 45 percent as the situation unfolds. Passengers who were due to board flights between 9:00 p.m. and midnight experienced prolonged hold‑ups at security checkpoints, as ground staff struggled to re‑route incoming flights. Some travellers, who had booked connecting flights in the early morning, found their itineraries disrupted, forcing them to secure alternative transport or pay for last‑minute accommodations.

One frequent flyer, 32‑year‑old Sara Li, described the chaos: “I was supposed to catch a flight to New York at 11:45 p.m., but I ended up waiting for two hours at the gate. The airline offered me a voucher for dinner, but that didn’t cover the inconvenience of missing my connecting flight the next day.”

Airlines have been quick to respond. Air Canada announced a compensation program that offers affected passengers a $200 voucher for future travel or a 20‑percent discount on their next flight. WestJet, meanwhile, has opened a dedicated hotline for travelers to file claims. Both carriers are working with the Transportation Security Administration to re‑schedule flights as quickly as possible.

The Broader Picture: System Modernisation and Future Resilience

While the current shutdown appears temporary, it underscores a larger need for modernisation across Canada’s air traffic infrastructure. The ATC system, largely inherited from the 1970s, has long been flagged by the Canadian Civil Aviation Authority for upgrades. A 2022 audit identified a 15‑year gap in radar coverage that, if unaddressed, could hamper the ability to manage the growing air traffic in the Greater Toronto and Vancouver regions.

In a related development, the Canadian government has announced a $3.2 billion investment to replace the existing radar network with a NextGen-compatible system that leverages satellite‑based navigation. The funding, part of a broader national aviation strategy, will also incorporate real‑time data sharing and predictive analytics to reduce the need for future emergency shutdowns.

According to a brief on the Canadian Aviation Safety Office’s website, the new system will integrate the Low‑Altitude Airspace Management Program (LAAMP) and provide higher fidelity situational awareness for pilots and controllers. The transition is slated for completion by 2026, with phased roll‑outs to minimise operational disruptions.

What Travelers Should Do Now

For passengers currently on the ground or in the air, the following steps can help mitigate the impact of the shutdown:

1. Check Flight Status: Use the airline’s mobile app or the airport’s official flight information screens. Both Air Canada and WestJet have updated dashboards showing real‑time departure and arrival data.

2. Contact Customer Service: If your flight has been delayed or cancelled, call the airline’s hotline. Keep your booking reference handy; this will expedite claim processing.

3. Verify Terminal Updates: ATSC has placed signage throughout the airports indicating the status of runways and gates. Check for any alternate gate assignments.

4. Use the ATC Maintenance Page: The Canadian Air Traffic Services website hosts a live feed of radar status updates. The feed includes timestamps for expected completion of the maintenance cycle.

5. Plan for the Next Flight: If you have a connecting flight, contact the airline as soon as possible to re‑book. Some carriers offer complimentary accommodation for flights delayed over four hours.

6. Consider Compensation: Keep receipts for any incidental expenses (parking, meals, hotels). Airlines may reimburse these under the current temporary guidelines.

Looking Ahead

The current shutdown, while disruptive, is a small blip in a longer-term evolution of Canadian air traffic infrastructure. The government’s investment in NextGen technology and the industry’s proactive maintenance scheduling are expected to dramatically reduce the frequency of such incidents. In the meantime, travelers are urged to remain patient, stay informed, and make use of the compensation programmes offered by airlines.

As the maintenance crews work through the night, the airports will gradually resume normal operations. Once the radar systems are back online, a swift re‑instatement of flights will follow, though passengers may still experience residual delays as the airspace is re‑balanced. The aviation community remains committed to restoring seamless travel across Canada and ensuring that safety remains the top priority.