The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia has approved a settlement totalling $18,075,000 to resolve a class-action lawsuit stemming from the March 2015 crash landing of Air Canada Flight 624 at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.
Decade-long litigation draws to a close
The settlement brings to an end litigation that followed a winter storm landing in which the aircraft struck power lines and came to rest about 200 metres short of the runway. The flight, which arrived from Toronto, had 133 passengers on board; court documents state that 25 people were injured in the incident.
Under the approved agreement, the monetary responsibility is allocated among the three named defendants. According to case documents:
- Air Canada will pay the bulk — more than $15 million;
- Nav Canada will contribute $2 million;
- The Halifax International Airport Authority will pay $1 million.
The settlement figure includes legal fees and expenses and does not represent an admission or finding of liability by any of the defendants.
"Nav Canada welcomes the court's approval of the settlement. The resolution of this long and complex litigation is a positive outcome for all parties," the agency said in an email.
What the approval means for those involved
Approval by the Supreme Court formally clears the path for distribution of settlement proceeds to class members consistent with the terms of the agreement and any court-ordered administration process. The settlement ends the possibility of further class-action claims against the named defendants on this matter, subject to the court's directions and any appeals that might yet arise.
Neither the settlement nor the court’s approval makes findings about which party — if any — was legally at fault. The wording of the agreement explicitly states it does not include any admission or finding of liability by Air Canada, Nav Canada or the Halifax International Airport Authority.
Facts of the 2015 incident
Investigators and emergency crews were on site at Halifax Stanfield in late March 2015 after Flight 624 encountered severe weather while attempting to land. The Transportation Safety Board and airport firefighters attended the scene. The aircraft’s contact with power lines in the approach path caused it to stop short of the runway, and several passengers suffered injuries.
| Detail | Reported |
|---|---|
| Flight | Air Canada Flight 624 (Toronto–Halifax) |
| Date of incident | March 2015 |
| Passengers on board | 133 |
| Passengers injured | 25 |
| Settlement total | $18,075,000 |
Responses from the parties
Nav Canada issued a brief statement to say it welcomed the court’s approval and described the settlement as a positive resolution. The Halifax International Airport Authority said it is mindful of those affected and acknowledged the length of the process. Air Canada did not provide an expanded comment in the materials filed with the court beyond the financial contribution indicated in the settlement documents.
Local context and implications
The approved settlement removes a legal cloud that has hovered over local aviation and emergency-response agencies for more than a decade. It also concludes a lengthy period of uncertainty for passengers who were injured and for others who were on board.
While legal closure is now in place, the incident remains a significant case study in winter-operations safety, communications among air carriers, air navigation services and airport authorities during severe weather, and the responsibilities those bodies carry in high-risk landing conditions. Investigations at the time by federal authorities and emergency services fed into ongoing discussions about approach procedures and safety protocols during winter storms.
With court approval final, attention will now turn to the practical steps for processing claims and distributing settlement funds to class members as directed by the court and the settlement administrator.
This ruling from the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia ends a chapter that began with a frightening landing more than a decade ago, but it also leaves broader questions about aviation safety and accountability in challenging weather conditions part of the public conversation.
(Reporting from Halifax.)
