Based on coverage from Winnipeg Free Press, Global News, CP24, News.Az, and AirLive.
A Porter Airlines flight from Toronto slid on a runway at Halifax Stanfield International Airport Wednesday night, leaving the aircraft stuck in snow and forcing passengers to be bussed to the terminal. No injuries were reported, and initial reports say there was no damage to the plane.
What’s less clear is the exact timing and how far the aircraft went off course, because different outlets describe the incident a bit differently.
Porter flight incident at Halifax Stanfield
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) says the Porter aircraft landed “without incident” at 8:21 p.m., then slid laterally while exiting the runway onto a taxiway and became stuck in the snow.
Airport officials, in statements carried by Global News, described Porter Airlines Flight 209 as becoming “disabled” at the end of Runway 14/32 following landing. CTV Atlantic similarly reported the plane slid off a runway around 10 p.m. Wednesday, and that Emergency Response Services determined it couldn’t get to the terminal under its own power.
Despite the different timestamps, all reports agree on the practical outcome: the aircraft couldn’t taxi normally after landing, and passengers had to be taken to the terminal by bus.
No injuries reported, passengers bussed
Across coverage from The Canadian Press, Global News, and CTV Atlantic, the key point is consistent: everyone got off safely.
Videos sent to Global News show emergency crews around the aircraft and passengers deplaning with heavy snow visible around the plane. The airport later posted that passengers were safely transported to the terminal building. CTV Atlantic said buses were used after responders assessed the aircraft and found it couldn’t make its way in on its own.
The Canadian Press report, citing the TSB, says there were no reported injuries and no damage to the aircraft.
Runway 14/32 closure and flight disruptions
The runway where the plane became disabled, Runway 14/32, was closed after the incident. Halifax Stanfield said Thursday morning that Runway 14/32 remained closed pending the aircraft’s removal by Porter Airlines.
The airport’s other runway, Runway 05/23, stayed open for scheduled operations, according to Global News, CTV Atlantic, and a separate report that also described continued operations using Runway 05/23.
Halifax Stanfield also said both runways were briefly closed Wednesday night during the response. The airport told Global News it did not believe there were diversions because of that short period of full closure.
Winter storm conditions in Nova Scotia
The incident happened as a winter storm moved through the region. Global News reported up to 20 centimetres of snow was expected. Halifax Stanfield warned travellers that delays and cancellations were possible not just because of local weather, but also because of “weather elsewhere” affecting the wider system.
In an emailed statement quoted by CTV Atlantic, airport spokesperson Tiffany Chase encouraged travellers to check flight status before heading to the airport and to leave extra time because of local road conditions.
TSB investigation and what comes next
The TSB says it is collecting information and assessing what happened. Other reports also say the cause hasn’t been confirmed yet and further assessments are expected.
For travellers, the near-term issue is simple: with Runway 14/32 closed until the aircraft is removed, Halifax Stanfield is operating with less flexibility during winter conditions, which can translate into knock-on delays even when one runway remains open.
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