5 Critical Air Canada Flight Emergency Landings: What Really Happened On AC1702 And The Halifax Crash Lawsuit

Air travel safety is paramount, but even the most rigorous standards cannot eliminate all risks, as evidenced by a series of high-profile Air Canada emergency landings in late 2024 and 2025. As of today, December 12, 2025, public attention remains focused on two particularly dramatic incidents: the precautionary diversion of Flight AC1702 to Des Moines due to a suspected smoke issue, and the severe hard landing in Halifax that resulted in a major class-action lawsuit.

These events, while ultimately non-fatal, highlight the incredible skill of flight crews and the stringent safety protocols that govern modern aviation. They also raise important questions for passengers and regulators about aircraft maintenance, crew response, and the airline's overall safety record in recent years.

The Precautionary Diversion: Air Canada Flight AC1702 (April 2025)

One of the most recent and widely reported incidents involves Air Canada Rouge Flight 1702, which was forced to make an unscheduled stop in the spring of 2025.

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Flight Details and Incident Overview

• Flight Number: AC1702 (Operated by Air Canada Rouge)
• Route: Las Vegas (LAS) to Toronto (YYZ)
• Aircraft Type: Airbus A321
• Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
• Cause: Detection of an acrid odour or smell of smoke in the flight deck (cockpit)
• Diversion Airport: Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Iowa

The Airbus A321, carrying 176 passengers, was well into its journey when the flight crew detected the concerning odour. Acting with an abundance of caution, the pilots initiated emergency procedures and requested a diversion to the nearest suitable airport, which was Des Moines.

The aircraft landed safely in Iowa, where it was met by emergency response teams as a standard precaution. Air Canada confirmed the diversion was a precautionary measure, prioritizing the safety of the passengers and crew. This incident is a textbook example of how pilot training and quick decision-making can successfully mitigate a potential in-flight emergency caused by an unknown mechanical or electrical fault.

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The Catastrophic Hard Landing: Air Canada Flight 2259 and the Lawsuit Fallout (December 2024)

A more severe incident that continues to generate legal and public scrutiny is the crash landing that occurred just before the start of 2025.

The Halifax Incident and Legal Action

• Flight Number: Air Canada Flight 2259
• Route: St. John’s to Halifax
• Date: December 28, 2024
• Cause: A suspected landing gear collapse and a missing tire, which reportedly blew out earlier in St. John's.
• Outcome: The imbalance led to a crash landing and a subsequent fire in the left engine upon arrival at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

The rough landing and subsequent engine fire caused significant distress and injury to passengers. The incident quickly escalated from an operational failure to a major legal challenge.

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Class-Action Lawsuit Details

In the aftermath, passengers filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Air Canada. The core of the lawsuit centers on negligence and the alleged failure to properly inspect and maintain the aircraft, particularly in relation to the tire that was reported missing or blown out before the flight’s final leg. The legal proceedings are ongoing, with a trial date reportedly set for 2026. This case serves as a powerful reminder of the financial and human cost of aircraft malfunctions and the critical importance of pre-flight inspections and ground crew communication.

Understanding Emergency Landings: Safety Protocols and Passenger Assurance

While the term "emergency landing" is frightening, it is a well-rehearsed protocol designed to ensure the highest chance of survival for everyone on board. The two recent Air Canada incidents showcase the spectrum of emergency situations—from a precautionary diversion due to a sensory warning (smoke/odour) to a catastrophic mechanical failure (landing gear/tire rupture).

Entities and Procedures Involved in Aviation Safety:

• Pilot Training: Air Canada pilots are highly trained to handle complex scenarios, including engine issues, smoke in the cockpit, and gear malfunctions. Their decisive actions in both AC1702 and the Halifax incident were crucial to preventing further disaster.
• Aircraft Maintenance: The Halifax incident, in particular, puts a spotlight on maintenance procedures, specifically the inspection of the landing gear system and tires, which are vital components of any aircraft.
• Air Traffic Control (ATC): ATC plays a critical role in clearing airspace and providing a dedicated, safe path for an aircraft declaring an emergency, as was done for the diversion to Des Moines International Airport (DSM).
• NTSB/TSB Investigations: Aviation authorities like the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launch immediate investigations following such events to determine the root cause, issue safety recommendations, and prevent recurrence.
• Emergency Response Teams: Local airport fire and rescue services, like those in Des Moines and Halifax, are always on standby for emergency landings, ready to deploy foam, assist with evacuation, and provide medical care.

Air Canada maintains a respectable safety rating, but the frequency of recent high-profile incidents—including the older but memorable Boeing 767 emergency landing in Madrid (AC837) due to engine failure and tire rupture—keeps the airline under close scrutiny. The use of emergency slides, as seen in another recent incident involving a flight returning to Denver (AC1038), further illustrates the gravity of these in-flight problems. Passenger safety remains the airline's stated priority, and the outcomes, where no fatalities occurred, are a testament to the effectiveness of modern aviation safety systems, even when faced with serious mechanical challenges.

For passengers, understanding the difference between a "precautionary landing" (like AC1702) and a "crash landing" (like the Halifax incident) is key to assessing risk. While both are stressful, the former is a standard safety measure, whereas the latter is a rare, severe event that can lead to long-term legal and physical repercussions for those involved. The ongoing class-action lawsuit will likely set a precedent for how airlines handle liability and compensation following severe operational failures.