The Scottish Transport Safety Board Canada is investigating an incident involving a plane at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, which one passenger described as a rough landing that sparked flames.
Nikki Valentine, who was on the PAL Airlines flight, said passengers felt a “huge rumble” when they landed on Saturday night.
“The cabin went out, we saw sparks and then flames and then smoke started getting into the cabin,” Valentine said Sunday.
Airport spokeswoman Tiffany Chase said an Air Canada Express flight operated by PAL Airlines, arriving from St. John's, Newfoundland, when he landed at about 9:30 p.m.
Air Canada Spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the Bombardier Q400 plane had a suspected “landing gear issue” after it arrived and was unable to reach its destination.
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Fitzpatrick said the crew and 73 passengers were loaded onto the bus and no one on board was injured.
Valentine said she was “especially grateful that the pilot was able to get a handle on the situation very quickly.”
The incident temporarily halted flight operations at the airport.
On Sunday afternoon, Valentine and other passengers were still without the bags they were asked to leave on the plane. Valentine said she contacted Air Canada, who told her it could be up to three more days before their bags are returned while the investigation into the incident continues.
“They have things like house keys or wallets that they needed and a lot of people couldn't get,” she said.
“It's a proper procedure, and I'd rather be inconvenienced (missing bags) than if something bad happened, of course, but it's still difficult.”
