An airport safety advocacy group, Advocates for Safer Airports in Canada, has urged for a thorough investigation into a recent incident at Halifax Stanfield International Airport involving a tumultuous landing, an engine fire, and an evacuation. The incident took place on December 28, 2024, and involved an Air Canada Express flight operated by PAL Airlines.
The flight had 73 passengers and four crew members on board. One of the passengers, Steve Mahar, expressed concerns over the frightening nature of the incident and the inadequate management of the aftermath. Mahar had to jump four-and-a-half feet to exit the aircraft due to the absence of an emergency platform. Post evacuation, passengers, including seniors and children, had to endure the cold on the tarmac for an hour.
Mahar criticized the lack of assistance provided to the passengers, especially the most vulnerable ones. Eventually, two shuttle buses arrived to transport them to a hangar.
According to a short report by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), the incident was caused by a blown tire. It stated that a tire on the left side of the De Havilland Dash 8 aircraft exploded during takeoff from St. John’s International Airport. Upon landing in Halifax, the damaged tire caused a vibration that destabilized the landing gear, leading to a fire in the left engine.
Despite this, the Advocates for Safer Airports in Canada believe that the TSB should delve deeper and examine the airport’s emergency response plan. Chris Bussey, the chair of the group, suggests that such an investigation could spotlight the status of emergency preparedness in airports across the country.
Bussey expressed concerns about the lack of oversight of emergency planning in Canadian airports and believes that the current system is putting passengers at risk. He pointed out that Canadian aviation regulations do not meet international standards and called for an external audit of the emergency plan’s effectiveness.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport has declined to comment on the incident.
