Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Air Canada aircraft had a close call at Toronto airport due to alleged negligence by the former’s pilot.

Canada’s aviation regulator has issued a report on the near-miss that took place on Oct 17.

The incident involved a PIA Boeing 777-200 aircraft that was preparing to take off from Toronto airport for Islamabad and an Air Canada Beoing 777-333ER arriving from Incheon, South Korea.

The PIA aircraft taxied onto Taxiway Q “without clearance,” the report said, adding the plane passed the hold line on Taxiway Q and entered the runway protected area (RPA) for Runway 23.

It said the Air Canada aircraft that had already begun the final approach to the same runway was instructed to “conduct a go-round”. The aircraft landed safely after a 15-minute delay.

The Canadian aviation authority said an air traffic controller’s timely action averted a potentially disastrous crash.

A spokesperson for the PIA said the management of the national airline has already taken notice of the alleged negligence by its pilot.