Originally Posted by CNN.com

Canadian reports: Jet was carrying about 200 passengers

Tuesday, August 2, 2005; Posted: 5:06 p.m. EDT (21:06 GMT)

TORONTO, Canada (AP) -- A passenger jetliner caught fire Tuesday after skidding off a runway in the rain at Pearson airport in Toronto.

There was no word on casualties. Canadian television reported that the plane was carrying about 200 passengers.

Police told news agencies the Air France passenger jet was trying to land. There were thunderstorms reported in the area at the time.

Police Sgt. Glyn Griffiths said it was not known if any passengers had been taken from the plane.

Black smoke billowed from the wreckage as the aircraft burned.

A row of emergency vehicles lined up behind the wreckage, and a fire truck sprayed the flames with water.

The flaming wreckage was next to the four-lane Highway 401, Canada's busiest highway, and some cars and trucks stopped on the roadway after the crash.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.