Air Canada Flight 2259
By Chris Williams
On the evening of 28 December 2024, Air Canada Flight 2259, operated by PAL Airlines, encountered a landing gear malfunction upon arrival at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. The aircraft, a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400, was en route from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Halifax, Nova Scotia, when the incident occurred.
Incident Overview
At approximately 9:30 p.m. Atlantic Time, the flight crew reported issues with the aircraft’s landing gear. Upon touchdown, the plane skidded along the runway, with eyewitnesses noting that the left side of the aircraft made contact with the tarmac. Subsequently, a fire ignited on the left side, and smoke infiltrated the cabin.
Passenger Nikki Valentine recounted the harrowing experience: “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.” She added, “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.”
Emergency Response and Evacuation
The flight crew initiated an emergency evacuation, deploying the aircraft’s slides. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated within approximately two minutes. Emergency services promptly arrived at the scene, extinguishing the fire and attending to the evacuees. Passengers were transported to a nearby hangar for medical evaluation. While some individuals sustained minor injuries, there were no reports of serious harm.
Valentine estimated the plane’s capacity at about 80 passengers, noting, “One side of the entire plane was on fire, so everyone was pretty much in a hurry to get off—but an organized hurry.”
Airport Operations Impact
In the immediate aftermath, Halifax Stanfield International Airport temporarily suspended operations to manage the emergency. This led to several inbound flights being diverted to alternative airports. After ensuring the safety of the runway and surrounding areas, the airport reopened one of its runways later that night, allowing for the gradual resumption of flight activities.
Investigation and Preliminary Findings
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has launched an investigation into the incident. Preliminary assessments suggest a malfunction in the aircraft’s left landing gear, which failed to deploy correctly, leading to the compromised landing. Investigators have recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders for detailed analysis to ascertain the exact sequence of events and contributing factors.
Aircraft and Operator Background
The De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400, commonly known as the Q400, is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft renowned for its efficiency on short-haul regional flights. However, the model has experienced landing gear-related incidents in the past. PAL Airlines, operating the flight on behalf of Air Canada under a capacity purchase agreement, has a commendable safety record. The airline has pledged full cooperation with the TSB during the investigation.
Passenger Experiences
Passengers aboard Flight 2259 have commended the professionalism and swift actions of the flight crew during the emergency. Many expressed relief at the outcome, acknowledging that the situation could have been more severe. Counselling services have been offered to support those affected by the traumatic event.
Historical Context
This incident is reminiscent of previous occurrences involving the Dash 8-400 aircraft. Notably, in 2007, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) experienced multiple landing gear failures with the Q400, leading to the temporary grounding of their fleet. While the aircraft has undergone design and maintenance improvements since then, isolated incidents continue to highlight the importance of rigorous maintenance and operational protocols.
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