Air Canada plane catches fire as it skids off runway in Halifax

A PAL Airlines aircraft, operating as Air Canada flight AC2259, executed an emergency landing at Halifax Airport, Canada, following a landing gear malfunction.

The incident, which occurred around 9:30 PM AT, was reported by CBC News Sunday.

During the landing, the plane skidded along the pavement, triggering panic among passengers.

Nikki Valentine, a passenger onboard, recounted the harrowing experience, describing how 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,” Valentine told CBC News.

Viral footage from the incident captured the aircraft’s wings scraping the runway, causing a fire during the landing. Fortunately, no casualties were reported among passengers or crew.

The emergency landing at Halifax Airport ignited discussions on social media, with users drawing comparisons to a deadly incident in South Korea.

A flight from Thailand to Muan International Airport crashed after veering off the runway and bursting into flames, resulting in 120 fatalities.

“Unbelievable. Thankfully it landed with everyone surviving it appears,” one user remarked about the Halifax incident.

Another expressed concerns over the frequency of aviation mishaps, writing, “Two catastrophic landing gear failures in a matter of hours? What’s happening in aviation right now? Mechanical issues or something more sinister? Questions need answers—fast.”

Adding to the series of recent aviation accidents, an Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines crashed in Aktau, Kazakhstan, claiming 38 lives while 29 survived.

Similarly, Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok to Muan, carrying 181 people, experienced a landing gear failure that resulted in a runway crash.

Deccan Chronicles reported that the flight from St. John’s, Newfoundland, skidded along the runway at Halifax Airport in Goffs, Nova Scotia.

The landing resulted in part of the aircraft catching fire. A statement from the airport, cited by CBC News, confirmed the incident and stated that all passengers were evacuated and examined by paramedics.

The airport was temporarily closed on Saturday night, though one runway was reopened shortly after.

According to a passenger interviewed by CBC News, one of the aircraft’s tyres failed to deploy properly during the landing, causing the plane to tilt and skid for a significant distance.

“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 described.

Emergency crews responded swiftly, ensuring the safety of all onboard.