Multimillion-dollar class-action settlement reached in 2015 Halifax crash landing
A $18-million settlement has been reached in a class-action lawsuit related to the 2015 Air Canada Flight 624 crash landing in Halifax.Summary
A Nova Scotia law firm has announced an $18-million settlement with Air Canada and other parties regarding the 2015 crash landing of Flight 624 at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. The flight, arriving from Toronto, struck power lines during a snowstorm and landed approximately 200 meters short of the runway, resulting in injuries to 25 of the 133 passengers. Air Canada will cover the majority of the settlement, with NAV Canada and the Halifax International Airport Authority contributing lesser amounts.
The Transportation Safety Board’s investigation revealed that pilot error, specifically failing to account for a headwind and a lack of cross-checking altitude and distance, contributed to the incident, along with issues with runway lighting. The aircraft clipped power lines and sustained significant damage, including a collapsed landing gear and a detached engine, but thankfully no fire erupted. Passengers reported waiting up to an hour for emergency responders in frigid temperatures.
The settlement, pending court approval, will cover legal fees and payouts to passengers based on the severity of their injuries, ranging from minor scrapes to post-traumatic stress. The legal team, including MacGillivray Law, Wagner Law, and Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman LLP, emphasized the fairness of the settlement and anticipated a relatively swift disbursement of funds after a decade of legal proceedings, including a battle for access to the cockpit recorder.
(Source：CP24 Toronto)