An Air Canada Express flight encountered a suspected landing gear issue after arriving at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Nova Scotia on Saturday night. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The flight, identified as AC2259, had taken off from St. John’s, Newfoundland, and was operated by PAL Airlines. It carried 73 passengers. Upon landing, the aircraft was unable to taxi to the terminal, and passengers were offloaded using a bus.
Flames and Shaking Reported by Passengers
The aircraft involved in the incident was a De Havilland DHC-8-402, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Witnesses reported that the plane skidded along the runway for a significant distance. One passenger, Nikki Valentine, described seeing flames on the left side of the plane and experiencing intense shaking.
The plane shook significantly, and we could see fire on the left side. Smoke began to enter through the windows, she said.
While this incident ended without injuries, it evoked memories of a more tragic aviation accident in South Korea. Just hours earlier, a Jeju Air flight crash-landed at Muan International Airport, killing 179 people. Aviation experts have suggested a landing gear malfunction in that case as well.
Airport Operations Disrupted
Following the incident, the airfield at Halifax Stanfield International Airport was closed for about 90 minutes. One of the two runways was cleared to resume flight operations after the closure. Tiffany Chase, a Halifax International Airport Authority spokesperson, confirmed that four flights were diverted, and there were several cancellations and delays during this time.
Chase stated that the affected aircraft remained on the runway and that Air Canada was waiting for clearance from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada to retrieve passengers’ belongings.
Investigation Underway
On Sunday, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada announced that a team of investigators would be deployed to the airport to assess the situation. They are expected to arrive later in the day.
The cause of the suspected landing gear issue remains unknown. Air Canada emphasized that, with respect to the investigative process, no speculation would be made at this stage.
While no injuries occurred, the airline acknowledged the unsettling nature of the incident for passengers. Efforts are underway to support them, and further updates are expected once the investigation progresses.
This event serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous safety protocols and the need for thorough investigations into aviation incidents to prevent future occurrences.
