Air Canada flight skids off runway and catches fire at Halifax Airport

An Air Canada flight, AC2259, operating under PAL Airlines, experienced a serious landing incident at Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Saturday. The flight, which was traveling from St. John’s to Halifax, encountered a critical issue with its landing gear upon arrival. The aircraft’s landing gear failed to fully deploy, causing one of the tires to remain retracted. Upon landing, the plane’s left wing scraped the runway, resulting in a fire.

Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene, extinguishing the fire and ensuring the safety of all 50 passengers and crew members. The fire was contained, and no injuries were reported. Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft without incident, and no fatalities have been reported. The aircraft sustained damage to its wing and undercarriage, but the fire was quickly controlled, preventing further escalation.

In the aftermath of the incident, Halifax Stanfield International Airport was temporarily closed as a safety precaution while authorities and emergency services worked to clear the scene. The closure lasted for several hours as the airport carried out safety protocols and the runway was inspected for any potential hazards. Operations were gradually resumed after the area was deemed safe.

The incident occurred shortly after another serious aviation accident in South Korea. A Jeju Air flight with 181 passengers on board crashed during landing at Muan International Airport, with multiple fatalities. Both incidents highlight concerns over potential failures in landing gear systems. Investigations are underway in both Canada and South Korea to determine the exact causes of the malfunctions. Preliminary reports suggest that both incidents involved issues related to the landing gear, which are being thoroughly investigated by aviation safety authorities.

Aviation safety experts have raised concerns about the failure of landing gear systems and their impact on flight operations. The incident at Halifax Airport will likely prompt reviews of maintenance and safety procedures related to landing gear across the industry to prevent future failures. Investigations into the causes of the failures are ongoing, and further updates are expected as authorities continue to assess the situation.

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— Taaza TV (@taazatv) December 29, 2024