The Gimli emergency landing
Open event
On 23 July 1983 an almost new Air Canada Boeing 767 ran out of fuel at 41,000 feet over northern Ontario, after its fuel load was worked out in pounds instead of kilograms. Captain Robert Pearson glided it to a landing on the disused air force runway at Gimli, Manitoba, and all 69 people on board survived.
3 video perspectives
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36:02
This Mayday episode reconstructs the flight of Air Canada 143 on 23 July 1983, from the first fuel pump warning to the evacuation at Gimli.
Published 3 May 2021
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48:55
This full Mayday episode follows Air Canada Flight 143 from the first fuel pump warning to the landing at Gimli, Manitoba, on 23 July 1983, and then into the investigation.
Published 5 May 2022
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23:03
On 23 July 1983 an almost new Air Canada Boeing 767 ran out of fuel over northern Ontario after its fuel was calculated with the wrong conversion factor.
Published 30 Oct 2026