Videos posted to social media capture dramatic bursts of flame erupting from the aircraft wing as it scrapes the runway
The fiery landing of an Air Canada Express flight at Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Saturday night is one of a long line of aviation incidents there dating back to the mid-1960s, stemming from malfunction or bad weather.
As the De Havilland DHC-8-402, operated by Air Canada partner PAL Airlines, skidded down the runway, passengers reported seeing flames on the aircraft’s left side, after tilting to a 20-degree angle to the left. Videos posted to social media capture dramatic bursts of flame erupting from the aircraft wing as it scrapes the runway.
Flames emanating from the left side of the plane can be seen in video posted to X by freelance journalist Nick Sartor. Defective landing gear resulted “in the wing scraping the runway causing a fire,” he wrote on Dec. 28.
The airfield was closed for about 90 minutes before two runways were cleared to resume flights, Air Canada said.
Incoming flights were “diverted to Moncton and Montreal” while the Halifax airport was closed, freelance journalist, Ian Seggie posted on X, also on Dec.28.
“The aircraft has been moved to a hangar following its release by the TSB,” Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick said in an email to the National Post on Monday. “Crews from PAL and Air Canada have been unloading the cabin and checked baggage; these are now being reunited with passengers.”
Fitzpatrick did not have an update on the investigation. He said both Air Canada and PAL are supporting the investigators in their work. “Out of respect for the investigative process, we cannot speculate and have no additional information to provide at this time,” he added.
The history of Halifax aviation accidents:
The Dec. 28 incident is one of a long line of crashes at or near the airport since 1965.
1965: EPA jet breaks apart killing eight
1979: Light plane crashes at the airport killing two, destroying banking documents
1987: Helicopter crashes near the airport injuring two
On July 17, 1987, a four-seat Bell 206 helicopter operated by Versatile Air Services crashed near Nova Scotia’s Highway 102 close to the airport. Two were injured and the aircraft was destroyed, the Canadian Press reported.
1998: Swissair jet crashes into the ocean, killing 229
2004: Plane crashes during takeoff, killing entire crew
2015: Air Canada jet downs in story weather, plane destroyed, passengers and crew survive
2018: Cargo plane overshoots runway, destroying plane while occupants survive
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