A PAL Airlines aircraft, operating as Air Canada flight AC2259, was forced to make an emergency landing at Halifax Airport in Nova Scotia due to a landing gear malfunction.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 PM AT on Saturday evening, as reported by CBC News.
During the landing, the plane skidded along the runway, sparking panic among passengers. Nikki Valentine, a passenger on the flight, shared a chilling account of the experience, stating the plane tilted about 20 degrees to the left as a loud, crash-like noise filled the cabin.
“The plane started to sit at about a 20-degree angle to the left, and as that happened, we heard a pretty loud sound—almost like a crash—as the wing of the plane began skidding along the pavement, along with what I presume was the engine,” Valentine recalled.
Viral footage from the scene captured the aircraft’s wings scraping the runway, igniting a fire during the landing. Despite the terrifying moments, no passengers or crew were reported injured.
Social media reactions to the incident quickly followed, with some users drawing comparisons to a deadly aviation tragedy in South Korea. In that case, a flight from Thailand to Muan International Airport crashed after veering off the runway and bursting into flames, killing 120 people.
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“Unbelievable. Thankfully, it landed with everyone surviving it appears,” one user wrote, while another questioned the rising frequency of such incidents: “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.”
This incident adds to a series of recent aviation mishaps, including the crash of an Azerbaijan Embraer 190 in Kazakhstan, which claimed 38 lives, and a runway accident involving Jeju flight 7C2216, which also experienced a landing gear failure.
CBC News reports that part of the aircraft caught fire during the emergency landing. The airport temporarily closed as emergency responders evacuated all passengers, who were then assessed by paramedics. The airport reopened one runway shortly after the incident.
A passenger who spoke with CBC News explained that a tire failure during the landing caused 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 coming in through the windows,” she said.
Emergency crews quickly responded to the situation, ensuring the safety of all on board.
CBS News.com
