The flight was evacuated after landing in Halifax

Transportation Safety Board Canada Halifax Stanfield International Airport is investigating an incident involving a plane that a passenger described as a rough landing that caused flames.

Nikki Valentine, aboard a PAL Airlines flight, said passengers felt a “massive rumble” during landing on Saturday night.

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

Airport spokeswoman Tiffany Chase said the PAL Airlines Air Canada Express flight from St. John’s, Newfoundland, had an incident during landing at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the Bombardier Q400 aircraft experienced a “suspected landing gear problem” after landing and was unable to reach the terminal.

Crew members and 73 passengers were removed from the bus and no one on board was injured, Fitzpatrick said.

Valentine said he was “particularly grateful that the pilot was able to understand the situation very quickly.”

The incident temporarily stopped flight operations at the airport.

As of Sunday afternoon, Valentine and the other passengers were still on the plane without the bags they had been instructed to leave. Valentine said he has contacted Air Canada and said it could take up to three days for his bags to be returned as the investigation into the incident continues.

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

“It’s the correct procedure and of course I’d rather have the inconvenience (of missing bags) than something bad happening, but it’s still difficult.”