Transportation Safety Board releases damage pictures from Air Canada crash landing in Halifax

HALIFAX – New photos released by the Transportation Safety Board show damage to the passenger cabin of an Air Canada plane that crashed at Halifax’s airport during a heavy snowfall earlier this year.

The photos are part of an update issued by the safety agency Tuesday that also provides details on the weather and flying conditions when Air Canada flight 624 hit the ground short of the runway on March 29.

One of the images released shows punctures to the aircraft cabin floor, with a metal object jutting up between seat rows near the back of the plane.

Related: Jet that crashed short of Halifax runway was mechanically sound: report

The aircraft smashed through an antenna array, then hit the ground about 70 metres before the runway, before sliding and bouncing for more than 600 metres before coming to a rest at the side of the runway.

All 133 passengers and five crew on board survived, although 25 people sustained injuries and were sent to hospital.

The report says a weather report told the crew that winds were blowing at 37 km/h with gusts as high as 48 km/h, with a visibility in front of the aircraft of 800 metres and below of just 100 metres due to blowing snow.

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It also says a preliminary study of the flight data recorder indicates the plane had a normal approach speed, was correctly configured for landing and there were no mechanical problems.

A news release from the safety agency said during the next phase of the investigation the agency will evaluate pilot training and performance during the crash.

No date has been given on when the final report will be completed.