On Saturday evening, Air Canada Express Flight 2259 endured a frightening landing at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Nova Scotia.
The flight, which departed from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, experienced a suspected landing gear failure as it touched down around 9:30 p.m. local time. The malfunction caused the aircraft to skid along the runway, with one of its wings catching fire.
“As a result, the aircraft was unable to reach the terminal and customers were offloaded using a bus,” Fitzpatrick said. “There were no injuries reported, however we appreciate this incident was unsettling for customers and we remain available to assist them.”
A spokesperson or the Nova Scotia Royal Canadian Mounted Police told Newsweek that all passengers and crew were “safely evacuated from the plane” and no injuries were reported.
Despite the alarming circumstances, all 73 passengers and crew members were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported. The aircraft was unable to taxi to the terminal, requiring buses to transport the passengers to the airport building.
Authorities are investigating the incident to determine the cause of the landing gear failure.
Earlier this weekend, a tragic aviation accident occurred at Muan International Airport in South Korea on December 29, 2024, involving Jeju Air Flight 2216. The Boeing 737-800, en route from Bangkok to Muan, veered off the runway during landing and collided with a barrier, resulting in a catastrophic explosion and fire.
The aircraft was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, totaling 181 individuals on board. Initial reports indicate that at least 62 people have lost their lives in the crash, with only two survivors confirmed so far.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with emergency responders working diligently to locate and assist any additional survivors.
Preliminary investigations suggest that a malfunction in the landing gear may have contributed to the accident. There is speculation that a bird strike during the approach could have caused the landing gear failure, leading to the aircraft’s inability to land safely.
