The plane is evacuated after the landing accident in Halifax

Transportation Safety Board Canada is investigating an incident involving a plane at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, which a passenger described as a hard landing that led to it catching fire.

Nikki Valentine, who was on the PAL Airlines flight, said passengers felt a “huge rumble” upon landing on Saturday night.

“The cabin tilted, and we saw sparks, then flames, and then smoke started sucking into the cabin,” Valentine said Sunday.

An Air Canada Express flight operated by PAL, arriving from St. John’s, Newfoundland, was involved in an accident upon landing at about 9:30 p.m., airport spokeswoman Tiffany Chase said.

Air Canada Spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the Bombardier Q400 plane experienced a “suspected landing gear problem” after its arrival and was unable to reach the station.

Fitzpatrick said the bus unloaded the crew and 73 passengers, and no one on board was injured.

Valentine said she was “particularly grateful that the pilot was able to bring the situation under control so quickly.”

The accident led to a temporary halt to aviation activity at the airport.

As of Sunday afternoon, Valentine and the other passengers were still without the bags they were asked to leave on the plane. Valentine said she contacted Air Canada, which told her it could take up to three more days before her bags were returned as the investigation into the incident continued.

“A lot of people have things like house keys or wallets that they need that they can’t get,” she said.

“It’s all common sense, and I’d rather have the inconvenience (of missing bags) than anything bad happen, of course, but it’s still difficult.”