The Air Canada flight returned to Toronto after being in the air for approximately 7 hours

Passengers aboard an Air Canada flight to St. John's earlier this week spent nearly seven hours in the air and were returned to Toronto after “several” attempts to land.

The airline confirmed to CTV News Toronto on Thursday that flight AC698 was en route to Atlantic Canada on February 5 when the pilot encountered “crosswinds” near the airport and ultimately decided to turn around.

“It is based on several factors. First, safety is our number one concern and always will be, something our customers fully agree with,” the spokeswoman said in an email, adding that winter weather in Atlantic Canada has made it difficult to land anywhere in the region.

According to flight tracking website FlightAware.com, AC698 departed Toronto at 9:43 p.m. for a trip that normally takes just over three hours.

However, the flight log shows that the plane was actually in the air for six hours and 37 minutes and attempted to land, making several circles around St. John's International Airport before returning to Toronto.

Air Canada said the pilot made the “correct decision” when he returned to Toronto and that the airline anticipates changing weather on such flights and prepares accordingly with extra fuel.

Meanwhile, Air Canada said returning to Pearson Airport is the best option for customers on the plane, many of whom come from Toronto, because it's difficult to find overnight accommodation.

“In this case, safety came first,” the airline said.