An Air Canada Express flight turned into a harrowing ordeal Saturday night when the aircraft skidded off the runway and caught fire during landing at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.
Air Canada Express Flight 2259, carrying 73 passengers, experienced a “suspected landing gear issue” during its 9:30 p.m. arrival, according to an Air Canada spokesperson. As the plane scraped the runway, flames erupted from the left wing, forcing a shutdown of airport operations for 90 minutes.
Passenger Nikki Valentine described the terrifying moment, telling CBC News, “The plane shook quite a bit, and we started seeing fire on the left side of the plane. Smoke began coming in through the windows.” Dramatic videos captured by passengers showed bursts of flame engulfing the wing as the aircraft came to a halt.
While no serious injuries were reported, paramedics treated minor injuries, according to Nova Scotia RCMP, who responded to the scene. Passengers and crew were safely evacuated and transported to the terminal by bus.
The airport confirmed one of its runways has since reopened, allowing normal operations to resume.
This incident is the latest in a string of aviation accidents. Hours earlier, a devastating plane crash in South Korea claimed 179 lives, and on Christmas Day, an Azerbaijan Airlines flight in Kazakhstan crashed, killing 38 of the 67 passengers on board.
The sequence of events highlights growing concerns about aviation safety during a particularly troubling week for air travel worldwide.
