Passengers aboard an Air Canada flight are grappling with the harrowing aftermath of a suspected landing gear failure that forced the aircraft into a dramatic emergency landing Sunday. The incident caused the temporary closure of the airfield, resulting in diverted flights and a series of cancellations and delays.

The aircraft involved was a De Havilland Canada DHC-8-402, also known as the Dash 8 Q400, a twin-engine turboprop commonly used for regional flights. The 107-foot-long aircraft can seat up to 78 passengers and is known for its reliability and ability to operate on shorter runways. Despite its active noise and vibration suppression system designed to enhance passenger comfort, the emergency situation highlights the challenges faced even by this well-regarded model.

Nikki Valentine, a passenger on the flight, spoke to CBC about the terrifying experience, recounting the moments of panic during the emergency landing. “The plane shook quite a bit, and we started seeing fire on the left side of the plane and smoke started coming in the windows,” she said. Valentine described the chaos and fear among those on board, many of whom were left shaken by the ordeal.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has launched an investigation into the incident and confirmed it was deploying a team of investigators to the airport later that day. The aircraft remains on the runway as investigators work to determine what went wrong.

Steve Mahar, another passenger who spoke to CBC, recounted the surreal moments during the evacuation. “The aircraft had stopped, and now smoke’s coming in. That’s when I thought, damn, this is really bad,” he said. Passengers had to jump from the exits without the help of an inflatable slide. Mahar described helping his family—including his stepfather, who had recently undergone knee surgery—safely to the ground. “That’s when it sunk in—it was just like, that just happened,” he added.

While no one was hurt in Halifax, “we appreciated this incident was unsettling for customers and we remain available to assist them,” Air Canada’s statement said. The airline is awaiting clearance from the TSB to release passengers’ belongings.