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Blown tire blamed for causing passenger plane’s landing gear to collapse in Halifax

A blown tire is to blame for the collapse of a passenger plane’s landing gear as it touched down in Halifax last month, causing an engine fire and evacuation of the aircraft, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada says.

The Air Canada Express flight, operated by regional carrier PAL Airlines, had 73 passengers and four crew members on board, but no one was injured during the rough landing on Dec. 28 at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

The independent board issued a brief report Thursday saying a tire on the left side of the De Havilland Dash 8 blew apart as the turboprop aircraft was taking off from the St. John’s International Airport in eastern Newfoundland.

Board investigators confirm finding tire fragments on the runway in St. John’s, but they also found that the crew were unaware of what had happened as the aircraft continued to its destination.

When the plane touched down in Halifax at 9:30 p.m., the blown tire caused a vibration that unlocked a brace stabilizing the landing gear. As the landing gear collapsed, the left propeller struck the runway, causing a fire in the left engine.

Passenger Nikki Valentine told The Canadian Press that she heard a “massive rumble” then saw sparks and flames shooting out from under the left wing. She said the cabin then tilted and started filling with smoke.

The board says the crew activated the engine’s extinguisher system and the plane was safely evacuated.

“Our investigators have conducted many interviews, with more to come,” a board spokesman said Thursday in an emailed statement. “They have also done the initial examination of the aircraft, and they will be doing more detailed examinations on several parts in the coming days.”

The board’s investigation is expected to include a technical examination of the landing gear and an evaluation of how the plane was operated and maintained, as well as a review of the weather conditions.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 16, 2025.

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