Air Canada Express jet emits flames during landing at Halifax

In an alarming incident that occurred on December 28, 2023, an Air Canada Express flight experienced a significant emergency during its landing at Halifax Stanfield Airport in Nova Scotia, Canada. The flight, which was arriving from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, faced a suspected landing gear issue that caused flames to shoot from the wing of the aircraft. This incident was documented by passenger Aden O'Callaghan, who shared his terrifying experience via video as the plane neared landing. As the aircraft was making its descent, O'Callaghan and fellow passengers were startled when they noticed the flames bursting from the wing. O'Callaghan shared his immediate reaction, exclaiming, "Almost just f---ing died, boys," while recording the frightening scene from his window. Reports indicate that the landing gear failure may have directly contributed to the fire and resulted in the plane skidding on the runway for over 15 seconds, raising alarms among the crew and passengers on board. The aircraft, operated by Pal Airlines, was carrying an undisclosed number of crew members along with 73 passengers at the time of the incident. After the plane skidded to a halt, all individuals on board exited safely. Following the emergency landing, the airport temporarily closed airfield operations to manage the situation. Passenger Nikki Valentine, who also experienced the turbulence during the landing, described how the plane tilted to about a 20-degree angle left as the alarming sounds echoed throughout the cabin, further amplifying the fear among those on board. Post-incident evaluations confirmed there was indeed a suspected landing gear issue as stated by a spokesperson for Air Canada. In response to the incident, The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has launched an investigation to thoroughly assess the circumstances that led to the distressing event. O'Callaghan expressed he felt concussed the day after the ordeal, revealing he suffered from a sore neck and back, although he stated he was otherwise okay and still feeling shaken. This incident highlights the critical importance of safety protocols and pre-flight inspections in preventing aviation emergencies.