Terrified passengers on an Air Canada flight had been left fearing the worst when their airplane caught hearth whereas touchdown, simply hours after the tragedy in South Korea.

Devastatingly, 179 folks died when Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 erupted into flames after its entrance touchdown gear didn’t deploy as a consequence of a suspected chicken strike.

With the world nonetheless reeling from the horror at Muan Worldwide Airport, one other aviation catastrophe was narrowly averted at a Canadian airport in Goffs, Nova Scotia.

An Air Canada plane arriving from St. John’s caught hearth after touchdown gear didn’t deploy correctly whereas touchdown, leading to one facet of the teetering airplane smashing towards the tarmac at Halifax Stanfield Worldwide Airport.

Scared passengers watched a part of their airplane catch hearth whereas skidding alongside the runway at a 20-degree angle till pilots managed to cease it, then they had been pressured to run off.

Passenger Nikki Valentine informed CBC Information: “The airplane began to take a seat at a few 20-degree angle to the left and, as that occurred, we heard a reasonably loud — what virtually gave the impression of a crash sound — because the wing of the airplane began to skid alongside the pavement, together with what I presume was the engine.

“The airplane shook fairly a bit and we began seeing hearth on the left facet of the airplane and smoke began coming within the home windows.”

Fortunately, the 73 passengers all managed to flee inside two minutes and nobody was nadly injured, with solely minor accidents reported.

Valentine added: “One facet of the whole airplane was on hearth, so everybody was just about in a rush to get off — however an organized hurry.”

Flight operations had been briefly suspended after the incident at Halifax Stanfield Worldwide Airport.

Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick stated the plane skilled a “suspected touchdown gear difficulty.”

This got here mere hours after 179 folks died from the Jeju Air passenger airplane carrying 181 folks in Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul.

Emergency employees pulled out two folks, each crew members, and native well being officers stated they continue to be aware.

Footage of the crash aired by YTN tv confirmed the Jeju Air airplane skidding throughout the airstrip, apparently with its touchdown gear nonetheless closed, and colliding head-on with a concrete wall on the outskirts of the power.

Different native TV stations aired footage displaying thick pillows of black smoke billowing from the airplane engulfed with flames.

Lee Jeong-hyeon, chief of the Muan hearth station, informed a televised briefing that rescue employees are persevering with to seek for our bodies scattered by the crash affect.

Jeju Air in an announcement expressed its “deep apology” over the crash and stated it can do its “utmost to handle the aftermath of the accident.”

Jeju Air chief government, Kim E-bae launched an official apology assertion, which learn: “First, we bow our heads in apology to everybody who has trusted Jeju Air. At roughly 9:03 AM on 29 December, flight 7C2216 from Bangkok to Muan caught hearth whereas touchdown at Muan Worldwide Airport.

“Above all, we categorical our deepest condolences and apologies to the households of the passengers who misplaced their lives on this accident. At current, the reason for the accident is tough to find out, and we should await the official investigation outcomes from the related authorities businesses.

“Whatever the trigger, as CEO, I really feel profound accountability for this incident. Jeju Air will do every part attainable to promtly handle this accident and help the households of these aboard. We may also do our utmost to find out the reason for the accident in cooperation with the federal government.

“As soon as once more, we pray for many who misplaced their lives on this accident and supply our deepest apologies to their bereaved households.”