Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Air Canada Flight 624

This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. (March 2015)
Air Canada Flight 624

Accident summary
Date March 29, 2015
Summary Collision with terrain
Site Halifax International Airport, Halifax, Canada
Passengers 133
Crew 5
Injuries (non-fatal) 23
Fatalities 0
Survivors 138 (all)
Aircraft type Airbus A320-211
Operator Air Canada
Registration C-FTJP
Flight origin Toronto Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Canada
Destination Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Halifax, Canada
Air Canada Flight 624 (AC624 / ACA624)[1][2][3] was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Toronto to Halifax. During heavy snow and poor visibility at 00:43 ADT (03:43 UTC) on March 29, 2015, the Airbus A320-211 performing the flight landed short of the runway and was severely damaged. The accident left the airport without electric power and it was consequently closed for a period of time and has since reopened. Twenty-three people were injured.

Contents  [hide]
1 Accident
2 Aircraft
3 Investigation
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
Accident[edit]
Air Canada Flight 624 departed from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) bound for Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ). It was carrying 133 passengers and five crew. The Airbus A320 operating the flight, registration C-FTJP, touched down in a dirt clearing 335 metres (1,099 ft) before the threshold of runway 05,[4] smashing through an antenna array causing the landing gear to separate from the aircraft, and hitting a power line that cut power to the airport, leaving the airport without electric power for about 90 minutes.[5] The aircraft then climbed an embankment up to the runway level, skidded on its belly and stopped 335 metres (1,099 ft) past the threshold.[4]

The aircraft was extensively damaged, with the loss of all three landing gear and port engine. The wings and tailplane were also damaged. Twenty-three passengers were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.[4] Both pilots were amongst those taken to hospital. All but one of those taken to hospital were released the same day.[6] The weather at the time of the accident was described as "stormy". The loss of power to the airport may be due to the aircraft clipping transmission lines before the accident.[7] Power was restored to the airport by 02:12 ADT.[5]

Aircraft[edit]
The aircraft was an Airbus A320-211, equipped with two CFM56-5A1 engines. Its serial number was 233 and it first flew on July 10, 1991. It was owned by GECAS and leased to Air Canada. As a result of the accident, the aircraft was written off.[8]

Investigation[edit]
The Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into the accident.[9]

See also[edit]
Accidents and incidents involving the Airbus A320 family
References[edit]
Jump up ^ "Air Canada AC624 touched down 335 metres short of runway, TSB says". CBC News. 29 March 2015.
Jump up ^ "Air Canada Flight AC624: Toronto to Halifax - AC624 Air Canada Flight". Airportia.com. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
Jump up ^ "Full flight information and flight history for Air Canada aircraft C-FTJP". Flightradar24 AB. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
^ Jump up to: a b c Simon, Hradecky (March 29, 2015). "Accident: Air Canada A320 at Halifax on Mar 29th 2015, touched down short of runway". The Aviaton Herald. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
^ Jump up to: a b "Air Canada AC624 slides off runway in Halifax, 23 sent to hospital". CBC. March 29, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Air Canada Flight 624 crashes into power line upon landing in Halifax". Global News (Shaw Media). March 29, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Airbus A320 Air Canada plane crashes on runway at Halifax airport". The Independent. March 29, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
Jump up ^ "C-FTJP Air Canada Airbus A320-211 – cn 233". Planespotters.net.
Jump up ^ Doucette, Keith. "23 treated in hospital after Air Canada plane slides off Halifax runway". Citynews. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
External links[edit]
Post-accident photos – TSBCanada on Flickr
Accident record at Aviation Safety Network