A PAL Airlines aircraft, designated as Air Canada flight AC2259, was forced to make an emergency landing at Halifax Airport, Canada, due to a landing gear malfunction.
The incident occurred around 9:30 PM AT, and reports indicate that the plane skidded down the runway, creating panic among passengers. One passenger recounted the terrifying experience, noting that the aircraft tilted approximately 20 degrees to the left, accompanied by a loud crash-like noise.
“The plane started to sit at about a 20-degree angle to the left, and as that happened, 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,” the passenger shared.
Footage of the event showcased the aircraft’s wings scraping the runway, which sparked a fire during the landing. Thankfully, there were no reported casualties among passengers or crew.
This emergency landing has sparked discussions on social media, with comparisons being drawn to a tragic incident in South Korea involving a flight that resulted in 120 fatalities. Comments from users reflected both relief at the Halifax incident and concern over a spate of recent aviation mishaps.
“Unbelievable. Thankfully it landed with everyone surviving it appears,” remarked one user. Another voiced worries regarding the rising frequency of such incidents, questioning whether mechanical issues or more serious problems were at play.
This incident adds to a series of recent crashes, including one involving an Embraer 190 operated by Azerbaijan Airlines in Aktau, Kazakhstan, which resulted in 38 fatalities. Similarly, a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok to Muan experienced a landing gear failure leading to a runway crash.
Local reports confirmed that the flight from St. John’s, Newfoundland, skidded along the Halifax Airport runway in Goffs, Nova Scotia, resulting in part of the aircraft catching fire. The airport released a statement confirming the incident and affirmed that all passengers were evacuated safely and examined by paramedics.
Although the airport temporarily closed on Saturday night, one runway was reopened shortly thereafter. According to eyewitnesses, one of the aircraft’s tires failed to deploy properly during landing, leading to the plane’s significant tilt and skid.
“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,” a passenger described. Emergency crews responded promptly to ensure the safety of everyone on board.
