Canada: A Canadian plane faced major landing issues, leading to a partial fire and the evacuation of all passengers at Canada’s Halifax Stanfield International Airport. The Air Canada Express flight, operated by PAL Airlines, was arriving from Newfoundland when its landing gear failed around 9:30 pm local time.
Witnesses described a harrowing scene as the aircraft tilted at a 20-degree angle to the left during landing. "We heard a crash-like sound as the wing skidded along the pavement," a passenger told Canada’s CBC News. While the plane has a capacity of approximately 80 passengers, reports suggest most seats were occupied, though the exact number remains unverified.
Emergency teams, including paramedics and the Nova Scotia RCMP, swiftly arrived on the scene. An airport spokesperson confirmed that all passengers and crew were safely evacuated and moved to a hangar for medical assessments. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The cause of the landing gear failure is under investigation. Aviation authorities and Air Canada officials are examining whether the malfunction was due to mechanical failure, procedural errors, or external factors.
Horrific Crash In South Korea
This incident in Halifax coincided with a tragic aviation disaster in South Korea. A Jeju Air flight carrying 181 people from Bangkok to Muan crashed during landing, resulting in the loss of 179 lives.
Videos shown in local media as well as those being shared on social media platforms showed the plane did not have its landing gear down while landing. Firefighting officials have been quoted in media reports saying that all of the passengers, other than two who have survived, are presumed dead. The survivours have been taken to hospital in Mokpo.
South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok expressed deep shock and offered condolences to the bereaved families. He visited the crash site around noon as per local time. His office has announce an emergency meeting of senior officials
