Canadian plane crash lands in storm

An Air Canada plane made an abrupt landing in bad weather and skidded off the runway at the airport in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada officials said yesterday. They said 23 people were taken to a hospital for observation and treatment of minor injuries.

The airline said Flight AC624, an Airbus 320 that left Toronto late on Saturday, had 133 passengers and five crew. Canada’s Transportation Safety Board called it an accident and provided pictures that showed significant damage to the plane with the nose torn off and what appears to be an engine crumpled under a damaged wing.

Passengers said they believe the aircraft hit a power line as it came in to land and described the plane skidding on its belly for some time before it came to a stop.

Power went off at the airport, but officials didn’t confirm the cause. Passengers said they left the plane immediately but were left standing on the tarmac, some in their stocking feet, for more than an hour as they were lashed by wind-whipped snow before buses arrived.

Confirms AC624, YYZ-YHZ exited runway upon landing at Halifax. All passengers have deplaned, going to terminal. More updates to come.

— Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 29, 2015

Air Canada said yesterday morning that 18 people who were taken to the hospital had been released. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening, the airline said.

The airline, Canada’s largest, didn’t make anyone available for comment and only issued news releases and tweets.

"We at Air Canada are greatly relieved that no one was critically injured…"1/4 #AC624

— Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 29, 2015

“We fully appreciate this has been a very unsettling experience for our customers and their families, as well as our employees…” 2/4 #AC624

— Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 29, 2015

"We are focused on caring for all those affected…” 3/4 #AC624

— Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 29, 2015

"We will fully cooperate with the TSB as it begins an investigation to determine the cause," said Klaus Goersch AC’s EVP & COO 4/4 #AC624

— Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 29, 2015

Spokeswoman Angela Mah said Air Canada’s chief operating officer had arrived at the scene.

Airport spokesman Peter Spurway said the aircraft touched down in stormy conditions at 12.25am yesterday morning.

“It came down pretty hard and then skidded off the runway,” Spurway said. He said he didn’t know whether runway conditions played a role.

The Halifax region was under a snowfall warning, with an Environment Canada alert saying, “visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow”.

The flight crew had told passengers that conditions at the airport weren’t good and they would circle for an hour to see if things improved, said passenger Dominic Stettler.

“And then there was a window of visibility and we went for it,” Stettler said.

Flight tracking site Flightradar24 listed several cancelled flights at the airport yesterday morning.

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