Man Fatally Shot by Police at Toronto’s Pearson Airport After Armed Standoff

A 30-year-old man was shot and killed by police at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport on Thursday morning following a tense confrontation near Terminal 1. The incident prompted a temporary disruption at Canada’s busiest airport.

According to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the man was involved in a dispute and was reportedly in distress inside an SUV parked near the departures area of Terminal 1. Peel Regional Police responded to the scene and attempted to de-escalate the situation for about 10 minutes.

Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah stated that officers engaged with a small group involved in the altercation and tried to calm tensions. However, the situation escalated when one individual suddenly drew a firearm. Officers then opened fire, fatally wounding the man.

He was transported to hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The man has not yet been publicly identified. No police officers were injured during the confrontation, and authorities confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public.

The shooting resulted in temporary road closures and rerouted public transit buses. While initial confusion caused travel delays, airport officials confirmed that flight operations were not impacted and have since returned to normal.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed concern over the event, saying, “What’s the world coming to? You go to the airport and there’s shootings happening.”

This is not the first time Pearson Airport has drawn headlines in 2025. Earlier this year, in February, a Delta flight skidded off the runway and caught fire. All 80 passengers on board survived the incident.

Pearson International Airport, located in Mississauga about 20km from downtown Toronto, handles over 40 million passengers annually.