An Air Canada Express flight encountered a suspected landing gear issue upon arriving at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Nova Scotia on Saturday night. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported during the incident. The flight, identified as AC2259, had departed from St. John’s, Newfoundland and was operated by partner PAL Airlines, carrying a total of 73 passengers.
After landing, the aircraft was unable to reach the terminal due to the suspected issue, and passengers were safely offloaded using a bus, as confirmed by Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick. The plane, a De Havilland DHC-8-402 according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, skidded down the runway for a considerable distance, with passengers witnessing flames on the left side of the aircraft.
Passenger Nikki Valentine described the experience, mentioning that the plane shook significantly, and they observed fire and smoke. Despite the alarming situation, all passengers were unharmed. The incident in Halifax, while unsettling, did not result in any injuries, and Air Canada expressed its readiness to assist affected customers.
Following the incident, the airfield at Halifax International Airport was temporarily closed for approximately 90 minutes. Flight operations resumed after one of the runways was cleared, although there were a few flight diversions, cancellations, and delays during the closure.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will be conducting an investigation into the suspected landing gear issue. A team of investigators is set to arrive at the airport to assess the situation. The aircraft involved in the incident remains on the runway, awaiting clearance from the Transportation Safety Board before passengers' belongings can be returned.
At this time, the cause of the landing gear issue remains unknown, and Air Canada refrained from speculating on the matter, respecting the investigative process. Additional information will be provided as the investigation progresses.
