OTTAWA -- An Air Canada Jazz passenger says the front wheel of the Dash 8-300 plane opened just 60 metres before landing at the Ottawa International Airport.
The AC8851 flight from Moncton to Ottawa made an emergency landing Thursday afternoon after an issue with its landing gear on final approach to the runway. The plane landed about 90 minutes behind schedule.
Passenger Jason Ouellette tells CTV News Ottawa the pilot said that the front wheel of the plane “wouldn’t open” on final descent and preparations were underway for an emergency landing. He adds the pilot told passengers that if the front wheel didn’t open, they would prepare to land with the back two wheels and the nose would hit the ground.
“Strangely, there was no panic on the plane. Everyone was nervous, some people were crying before and after the event,” Ouellette said shortly after landing.
In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, the airline confirmed AC8851 flight from Moncton to Ottawa “experienced an issue with its landing gear” on final approach.
“As per our standard operating procedures the crew requested priority landing. The aircraft landed in Ottawa safely and without incident,” said Air Canada Jazz spokesperson Manon Stuart in an email.
Emergency crews were called to the runaway as a precautionary measure.
“When we were about 200 feet, luckily, they said luckily that front wheel came out and we had a perfect landing,” Ouellette said.
“Everybody clapped, some people were crying joy.”
The Dash 8-300 flight had 37 passengers and three crew members on board.
Stuart says Air Canada maintenance personnel will conduct a “thorough inspection of the aircraft to determine the cause and proceed with the necessary repairs.
Ouellette praised the pilot and crew of the flight, saying “they did an excellent job reassuring us. They kept us aware of what was going on.”
