HALIFAX — An Air Canada flight operating as AC2259, managed by PAL Airlines, made a harrowing emergency landing at Halifax Stanfield International Airport late Saturday night following significant landing gear failure. The aircraft, traveling from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, experienced complications during its landing approach, resulting in its wings scraping against the runway, igniting flames at about 9:30 p.m. local time.
The troubled landing sent panic among the 73 passengers, who reported seeing sparks fly as the aircraft skidded and partially caught fire. Fortunately, no serious injuries were recorded among those on board. Tiffany Chase, spokesperson for the Halifax airport, confirmed the incident caused temporary delays to all flight operations. "The runway was shut down for safety protocols, but has since resumed regular use," she added.
Peter Fitzpatrick, Air Canada spokesperson, mentioned, "Nobody on board was injured," highlighting the efficient emergency response. Although there were minor injuries reported by the Nova Scotia RCMP, they were not life-threatening. After the plane came to a stop, emergency crews quickly attended to the situation, getting passengers evacuated by bus to the terminal.
Witness Nikki Valentine captured the panic of the situation, stating, "The plane started to sit at about a 20-degree angle to the left and, as we heard what almost sounded like a crash sound, the wing of the plane started to skid along the pavement, along with what I presume was the engine." The passengers experienced considerable shaking of the plane, with Valentine recalling the frightening sight of fire on the left side and smoke entering through the windows.
According to initial reports, the aircraft involved was a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400, registered as C-GPNA, which has been operational for 24 years and powered by Pratt and Whitney engines. The DOT and relevant aviation authorities are expected to launch full-scale investigations to understand the technical malfunctions contributing to the landing gear failure.
The incident at Halifax coincided with another aviation disaster occurring just hours prior at Muan International Airport, South Korea, where a Jeju Air flight carrying 181 people tragically crashed, leading to the reported deaths of at least 85 individuals and raising concerns across the aviation sector worldwide.
Both incidents have sparked discussions about aircraft maintenance protocols and emergency landing procedures, underlining the international efforts to improve safety regulations. With the close proximity of these disastrous events, passenger safety becomes the main focus of subsequent inquiries and investigations.
Valentine described the evacuation process as swift but filled with urgency: "It took about two minutes to get everyone off the plane. One side of the entire plane was on fire, so everyone was pretty much in a hurry to get off—but it was still organized," she recalled.
While investigations are underway to piece together the sequence of events leading to this alarming incident, authorities continue to assure the public about safety measures being prioritized at airports nationwide. The quick action of the crew and emergency services undoubtedly played a pivotal role, preventing what could have been far more severe consequences. "The incident is currently under review, with findings set to be shared with the public as they develop," Chase stated.
The Halifax incident and the South Korean tragedy highlight the pressing need for continuous improvement and proactive measures within the aviation community to maintain high safety standards and prevent future disasters.