Air Canada Plane Wing Catches Fire During Halifax Landing, Passengers Safely Evacuated
A potentially disastrous incident was averted on Saturday night at Halifax Stanfield International Airport when the wing of an Air Canada passenger plane caught fire during landing.
The aircraft, arriving from St. John’s as Air Canada Flight 2259, faced complications while landing, causing it to skid along the runway. The impact sparked a fire on part of the plane, prompting airport authorities to temporarily close the facility.
Passenger Recounts Terrifying Moments
Nikki Valentine, a passenger on board, described the harrowing experience, attributing the incident to a tire malfunction.
“The plane started to sit at about a 20-degree angle to the left, and as that happened, we heard a loud crash sound. The wing of the plane skidded along the pavement, along with what I presume was the engine,” Valentine recalled.
She added, “The plane shook significantly, and we started seeing fire on the left side of the plane. Smoke began entering through the windows.”
Emergency Response
The airport released a statement confirming that the incident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. local time. Although the number of passengers was not disclosed, all individuals were safely evacuated and transported to a hangar where paramedics assessed them.
Valentine estimated the plane’s capacity to be around 80 passengers, noting it was nearly full. She commended the quick and organized evacuation, which took approximately two minutes.
“One side of the entire plane was on fire, so everyone was pretty much in a hurry to get off — but an organized hurry,” she said.
No Life-Threatening Injuries Reported
While passengers appeared shaken by the ordeal, Valentine reported that there were no life-threatening injuries.
The incident is a stark reminder of the importance of emergency preparedness in aviation, with the swift actions of the crew and emergency responders preventing what could have been a catastrophic outcome. Investigations into the cause of the landing complications are ongoing.
