An Air Canada airplane crash landed on the runway of the Halifax International Airport early Sunday. The Airbus A320 is believed to have slammed into a power line, likely leading to the crash and a mass power outage at the airport.
Air Canda A320 C-FTJP with serial number 0233 was built in July 1991 (almost 24 years old) http://t.co/ecmmemCYpI pic.twitter.com/jwpkLAM6KU
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) 29 Март 2015
Update 2 #AC624: AC Assistance team on site. Prelim report: 22 people transported to hospital for observation & treatment of minor injuries.
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) 29 Март 2015
The airline confirms that 22 people have been sent to a local hospital with minor injuries.
“@bizjet101: C-FTJP Air Canada Airbus A320 written off landing accident at CYHZ Halifax @AviationSafety @airlivenet pic.twitter.com/elhVznOmqG”
— Natasha Pace (@NatashaPace) 29 Март 2015
Flight AC624 had 132 passengers and five crew members on board at the time of the crash.
Update 1 #AC624: All passengers have have left A320. We are on site to determine if any injuries. Prelim count indicates 132 pax and 5 crew.
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) 29 Март 2015
Peter Spurway, a spokesperson for Halifax International Airport, says federal investigators have been called in to probe the incident.
Confirms AC624, YYZ-YHZ exited runway upon landing at Halifax. All passengers have deplaned, going to terminal. More updates to come.
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) 29 Март 2015
The airport has been shut down and all flights have been cancelled.
Meanwhile passengers are stuck at the airport while everything unfolds. #CBCns pic.twitter.com/IyTghMQjky
— Chris Ensing (@ChrisEnsingCBC) 29 Март 2015
A direct link between the power outage and the crash have not been confirmed by airport officials.
#halifax @AirCanada pic.twitter.com/Fmit3drCrM
— Jeremy Addis-Mills (@JAddisMills) 29 Март 2015
People who were waiting for their flights, however, posted pictures of pitch-dark terminals and speculated that it might have been caused by the incident. The power was restored some 80 minutes after being cut off.
Pitch black inside HFX airport. I'm told a bus is headed to plane to pick up passengers. #CBCns pic.twitter.com/m4nNweIJJm
— Chris Ensing (@ChrisEnsingCBC) 29 Март 2015
Initial reports from the scene indicated that the plane was badly damaged.
The incident occurred amid light snowfall and heavy winds on Sunday. Road conditions were reportedly slippery.
