On Monday, a frightful incident befell an Air Canada flight, as the flight skidded down the runway after it had faced a hard landing with passengers visible flames. The accident happened on arrival of Air Canada Flight 2259 from Vancouver at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The Airbus A320 had touched down in poor weather conditions, with heavy rain and strong winds being key factors in the hard landing. The impact sent the aircraft reportedly bouncing onto the runway and skidding along it. Passengers along the wings recounted flames and sparks as the landing gear struggled to develop traction on the wet surface.
Emergency crews arrived on the scene immediately. All passengers aboard were successfully evacuated without incident. The accident was quite minor, considering there were some minor bruises and shock symptoms among both the passengers and crew.
Though this could have become a disaster movie, some of the frightened passengers praise the flight crew and emergency response teams who quickly brought everyone to safety.
Air Canada issued a statement shortly after the incident, confirming that Flight 2259 experienced a “hard landing” but emphasized that all passengers and crew were safely evacuated. The airline also noted that it is cooperating with aviation authorities to investigate the cause of the incident.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has opened an investigation into the incident. Preliminary reports indicate that weather conditions and runway friction may have contributed to the hard landing and subsequent skid.
Aviation experts think that maybe the anti-skid systems of the aircraft might not have been able to handle the slippery runway; therefore, the landing gear lost grip. The investigators are looking at the approach of the flight, its touchdown speed, and other mechanical problems that may have occurred.
Such incidences are few but remind one of the complexity of air travel. There is much that is to be taken carefully regarding safety issues. For this reason, passengers are advised to follow the crew’s instructions during emergency situations, to remain calm, and, therefore, evacuate orderly.
As the investigation continues, Air Canada assured its passengers that safety remains its priority. The airline promised to work closely with the authorities to identify the root cause of the incident and to implement any measures necessary to prevent such an occurrence from happening again in the future.
