An Air Canada Express flight operated by PAL Airlines from St. John’s International Airport (YYT) faced a landing gear failure upon arriving at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) on December 28, 2024, leading to delays and a temporary airport closure.
The incident occurred around 9:14 p.m. local time when Flight AC2259, a de Havilland Dash 8-402Q aircraft registered C-GPNA, landed on runway 23. Witnesses reported the left main landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to skid and spark a fire.
Emergency responders, including Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency and RCMP, arrived quickly. While no serious injuries were reported, a few passengers sustained minor injuries. The airport temporarily closed, resulting in four flight diversions and delays, but one runway reopened later that night.
The severely damaged aircraft remains under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which has deployed a team to Halifax. The airport authority advised passengers to check with airlines for updated schedules amid ongoing cancellations and delays.