The Canadian TSB has released its final report regarding the "October 31 incident," which took place on AC 224, a weekly Toronto-Montreal-Paris service. After two years of exhaustive investigation, experts are still unable to pinpoint a cause for this incident. Excerpts from the report are reproduced below.

"...At cruising altitude in between Toronto and Montreal, the pilots reported a sudden, but shallow, uncommanded roll to the right, then the left, "as if something hit them from below." While adjusting the autopilot to accommodate this event and regain proper flight attitude, the aft-left window exit warning light lit up, followed by the cabin pressurization warning. The aircraft fully depressurized, and the captain initiated descent from 32,000 to 10,000 ft. The co-pilot declared Mayday, stating their intention to land at Ottawa-Macdonald-Cartier International airport..."

"...During descent, it was discovered that the aft-left window exit had been opened, and it was thought that a nervous passenger managed to open it after depressurization. However, the inspector's seal on the interior handle cover was still intact, and the exterior push-panel was badly deformed, which led some to think that it had been damaged during maintenance. Even if the door latches were open due to panel deformation, it would require over 10,000 pounds of steady pressure to pull open such a plug-style exit hatch while pressurized, leaving this aspect of the incident unsolved..."

"...numerous indentations and scratch marks were found around engine one, the exit hatch frame and the top of the wing leading from the engine to the hatch area. A meteorite was suspected, but no meteorite particles were found. Furthermore, all holes showed signs of slow deformation, as if a foreign object was slowly inserted into the aircraft skin, but such steady power would be impossible for a meteorite or even debris from other aircraft..."

"...Flight attendant S. Remy reported that an average-sized man took the window seat before takeoff, but that a different man was seated at the exit after the depressurization. Remy reported a "maniacal" look to the man, who he estimated to be over 300 pounds and very strongly built. After landing, the man was seen exiting the aircraft through the adjacent exit before it had finished stopping, and ran away from the airport. No traces of the original passenger were found at the time..."

"...ticket jackets, safety instruction cards, napkins, and stationery printed with the Air Canada logo were found in a schoolyard the next day, but no large aircraft debris were found on the flightpath to the airport. Further down the flightpath, a curling rink reported a medium-sized hole in the ceiling of the facility and an eight-foot wide crater in the rink surface that they reported to be "man-shaped, but much too large." Footprints were found, but they lead away from the indentation in a sprightly posture. Both the indentation and the seat next to the exit hatch were reported to emit an "overpowering musk" which badly affected the capabilities of the investigators, leading many to retreat, blushing, to their hotels..."

"...after a search of the baggage hold, a suitcase was found of a Mr. R., who was missing from the passengers after landing. He was found at his home in the United States and had no memory of ever flying on an Air Canada aircraft. As all of the clothes were found to be too small for him to wear, a misplaced baggage tag was suspected. He was called to travel to Ottawa to interview with the safety bureau in person, but he insisted that he could not, as it would interfere with a "monthly get-away" with friends."

"...Despite the alarming number of unusual events surrounding this incident, no definite cause has been established."

Featuring a WerePierre  pierrezaius