Committee for Traffic Safety Canada is investigating an incident involving a plane at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, which a passenger described as a rough landing that sparked flames.
Nikki Valentine, who was on the PAL Airlines flight, said passengers felt a “tremendous rumble” upon landing on Saturday night.
“The cabin tilted, we saw sparks, then flames, and then smoke started coming into the cabin,” Valentine said Sunday.
Airport spokeswoman Tiffany Chase said the Air Canada Express flight operated by PAL Airlines, which arrived from St. John’s, Newfoundland, experienced a landing incident around 9:30 p.m.
Air Canada Spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the Bombardier Q400 plane had a “suspected landing gear problem” after arrival and was unable to reach the terminal.
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Fitzpatrick said the crew and 73 passengers were taken off the bus and no one on board was injured.
Valentine said she was “particularly grateful that the pilot was able to grasp the situation very quickly.”
The incident temporarily halted flights at the airport.
On Sunday afternoon, Valentine and the other passengers were still without the bags they were told to leave on the plane. Valentine said she contacted Air Canada, which told her it could be another three days before their bags are returned while the investigation into the incident continues.
“A lot of people have things like house keys or wallets that they needed and couldn’t get,” she said.
“It’s all due process and I’d rather have the inconvenience (of missing bags) than anything bad happening, of course, but it’s still difficult.”








