Accident on Air Canada flight in Halifax causes alarm and evacuation of passengers.

The accident that occurred Saturday night at Halifax International Airport has left the aviation community and passengers in shock following the landing gear failure of Air Canada flight 2259. The flight, operated by PAL Airlines, was en route from St. John’s International Airport in Newfoundland to Halifax when the incident took place at 9:30 PM AST (1:30 AM GMT on Sunday).

According to the testimony of Nikki Valentine, one of the passengers on board, the landing turned chaotic when the aircraft's tires did not deploy correctly. This situation caused the plane to skid on the runway, resulting in a loud impact and the subsequent dragging of the aircraft's wing along the pavement. "When that happened, we heard a pretty loud noise, almost like a crash," Valentine recounted, adding that the plane began to tilt dangerously to the left.

The situation became even more alarming when passengers began to notice fire starting to break out on the left side of the aircraft. "The plane shook quite a bit, and we started to see fire on the left side of the plane, and smoke started coming out of the windows," described the passenger, who experienced moments of great distress alongside the rest of the occupants.

Fortunately, emergency teams responded quickly. Firefighters and emergency services arrived at the scene immediately, managing to extinguish the flames that were consuming part of the aircraft and ensuring the evacuation of all passengers. "One side of the plane was on fire, so everyone was in a hurry to get out, but it was an organized hurry," emphasized Valentine, highlighting the coordination amidst the panic.

While the exact number of passengers on board is unknown, medical services examined all of them in a hangar at Halifax Airport, ensuring that there were no serious injuries among the flight's occupants. Healthcare was activated quickly, reflecting the importance of safety in emergency situations.

The incident has led to the temporary closure of Halifax Airport, resulting in flight cancellations and disruptions to many travelers' plans. Airline teams are working on relocating affected passengers and managing this crisis, which has caused significant concern among air transport users.

Aviation authorities have opened an investigation to determine the exact causes of the landing gear failure. This incident occurs in a context where air safety has been under intense scrutiny, especially following recent incidents in other parts of the world, such as the emergency landing of a Boeing 737 in South Korea.

This accident underscores the need for continuous review of aircraft safety and maintenance protocols, as well as the emergency procedures that must be followed to ensure passenger safety. The aviation community is awaiting the results of the investigation, which will shed light on any deficiencies that may have contributed to this troubling event.

Meanwhile, passengers who experienced the incident are sharing their experiences on social media, generating a debate about safety in commercial flights and the measures that should be taken to safeguard travelers. In this regard, it is crucial that airlines and authorities work together to restore public confidence in air transport.