Air Canada Flight Makes Emergency Landing at Halifax Airport

Air Canada Flight 2259, operated by PAL Airlines, was forced to make an emergency landing at Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Saturday night due to a malfunctioning landing gear.

The flight, a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 registered as C-GPNA, had departed from St. John’s International Airport. During descent, the aircraft encountered landing gear issues. At approximately 9:30 p.m. AST, the aircraft landed unevenly when one of its tires failed to deploy properly.

The faulty landing caused the plane to tilt at a 20-degree angle to the left, with sparks and a fire breaking out near the wing. Emergency crews, including Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) teams, quickly extinguished the flames and ensured the safety of all passengers and crew.

Passenger Nikki Valentine described the harrowing experience: “The plane tilted at about a 20-degree angle to the left during landing. We heard a loud crash-like sound as the wing skidded along the pavement. Shortly after, we saw fire and smoke near the left side of the plane.”

Despite the urgency, Valentine praised the organized evacuation: “Everyone moved quickly but in an organized manner to get off the plane as smoke began to fill the cabin.”

The airport confirmed the incident and reported that all passengers and crew were safely evacuated. No injuries were reported. The airport was briefly closed, but one runway has been cleared for regular operations. Further updates will be provided as necessary.

This emergency landing marks the third major aviation incident of the week, raising concerns about aircraft safety and maintenance across the industry. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the landing gear malfunction.