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.
Unlike some horrific crashes in the past, no injuries were reported among the 73 passengers affected on Dec. 28, according to a statement made by the airline to the Canadian Press.
“All passengers and crew on board (were) deplaned and…transported off the airfield,” the airport authority said in a message posted to X on Saturday night.
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.
“We heard a pretty loud — what almost sounded like a crash sound — as the wing of the plane started to skid along the pavement, along with what I presume was the engine,” passenger Nikki Valentine told the CBC. “The plane shook quite a bit and we started seeing fire on the left side of the plane and smoke started coming in the windows,” she said.
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
On 17 March 1965, a Handley Page Dart Herald operated by Eastern Provincial Airways bound for Sydney, N.S. crashed in nearby Upper Musquodoboit about 15 minutes after takeoff. As the plane was climbing, it broke apart, resulting in the deaths of the three crew members and five passengers.
1979: Light plane crashes at the airport killing two, destroying banking documents
On December 18, 1979, a Piper Navajo light plane operated by a courier service crashed at the airport, killing two and destroying many documents detailing transactions from 59 banks in Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, reported the Canadian Press.
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
One of the most horrific crashes in Nova Scotia aviation history occurred on the night of Sept 2, 1998. Swissair Flight 111, Swissair Flight 111, originating in New York City and heading to Geneva crashed into the ocean, near St. Margarets Bay, N.S., killing all 229 passengers and crew. Before the crash a mayday call was issued after smoke was seen in the cockpit. The pilots attempted to divert to the Halifax airport after dumping fuel but crashed into the sea about 60 km away from the airport. New York City to Geneva, declared a pan-pan after the crew noticed smoke in the cockpit. The flight crew attempted to divert to Halifax after dumping fuel, but crashed into the sea at the entrance of St. Margarets Bay, about 60 km from the airport. All 229 passengers and crew were killed. The tragic incident was detailed in a report released in 2003 by the Transportation Safety Board.
2004: Plane crashes during takeoff, killing entire crew
On October 14, 2004, MK Airlines Flight 1602, a Boeing 747-200F, crashed during takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members.
2015: Air Canada jet downs in story weather, plane destroyed, passengers and crew survive
Another accident involving Air Canada occurred on March 29, 2015, when AC Flight 624 crashed while attempting to land during stormy weather, shortly after midnight. in stormy weather. Fortunately, on that occasion all 137 passengers and crew survived, even though the aircraft was destroyed. That crash was detailed in a TSBC report issued in 2017.
2018: Cargo plane overshoots runway, destroying plane while occupants survive
On Nov. 7, 2018, Sky Lease Cargo Flight 4854, a Boeing 747-4004F, ran off a runway while landing. While all four occupants survived, according to the CBC, the aircraft was destroyed.
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