Heavy snow and a disabled aircraft are continuing to disrupt travel at Halifax Stanfield International Airport after a Porter Airlines jet slid off a runway while landing on the night of Wednesday, February 11, 2026. While all passengers and crew escaped injury, one of the airport’s key runways remains closed as recovery crews and federal investigators work to secure the aircraft and assess what went wrong, leaving travellers to navigate delays, cancellations and fast-changing winter conditions across Atlantic Canada.
What Happened on the Runway in Halifax
The incident involved a Porter Airlines Embraer E195-E2 arriving in Halifax from Toronto on the evening of February 11. The flight is reported to have landed normally at approximately 8:21 p.m. local time, touching down in the midst of a powerful winter storm that had already blanketed the region in heavy snow and reduced visibility across much of central Nova Scotia.
According to passenger accounts reported by Canadian and local outlets, the touchdown itself felt routine, but the situation changed rapidly as the aircraft slowed and attempted to exit the runway. As the jet began to turn from the active runway onto a taxiway, it started sliding sideways on the slick surface, losing traction on compacted snow and ice. Within moments, the aircraft departed the paved surface and became lodged in deep snow off the edge of Runway 14/32, unable to move under its own power.
Airport officials described the jet as having become “disabled” after landing. There were no reports of fire, structural breakup or visible major damage, and no passengers or crew reported injuries. Nonetheless, the sudden runway excursion triggered an immediate emergency response at Halifax Stanfield, temporarily closing both of the airport’s runways while firefighters, paramedics and airport operations staff converged on the stranded aircraft.
Conditions on Board: Passengers Stuck on the Tarmac
For those on board the Porter flight, the incident translated into an unexpectedly long and uncomfortable wait in stormy conditions. Passengers have described sitting on the disabled aircraft for roughly two and a half hours while emergency crews assessed the scene, cleared snow and worked out how to safely get everyone off the plane and to the terminal.
Heavy snow and near-zero visibility compounded the challenge. At times, passengers reported that they could barely see beyond the aircraft’s windows, while gusting winds continued to whip snow around the fuselage. Attempts to bring mobile stairs to the aircraft were hindered by deep drifts and poor traction on the icy taxiways. Equipment brought in to reach the jet reportedly struggled to maintain grip, forcing crews to pause, reposition and repeatedly plow a path through the accumulating snow.
Despite the unusual and uncomfortable circumstances, accounts from inside the cabin suggest a relatively calm atmosphere. Travellers on the Porter flight said that most people remained composed, chatting quietly or scrolling on their phones as they waited for news. Crews kept passengers updated as best they could given the changing conditions outside, emphasizing that there were no signs of immediate danger and that the primary concern was ensuring a safe and controlled deplaning process in the blizzard-like weather.
Emergency Response and Runway Closure
The moment the jet slid off the runway, Halifax Stanfield’s emergency protocols snapped into place. Airport fire-rescue units and medical teams deployed to the scene, supported by operations and maintenance crews tasked with clearing snow, assessing surface conditions and protecting other airfield users. For a short period overnight, both of the airport’s runways were taken out of service while responders confirmed that it was safe to resume limited operations.
Runway 14/32, where the incident occurred, remains closed while Porter’s recovery team and airport engineers prepare to move the disabled Embraer from its resting position in the snow. This process requires careful planning, particularly in winter conditions, to avoid causing secondary damage to the aircraft or the runway infrastructure. Specialized towing equipment has to be positioned on stable ground, while snow is cleared away from sensitive areas under and around the jet’s landing gear.
Halifax Stanfield’s second, and primary, runway 05/23 has since reopened and is handling scheduled operations. However, the loss of 14/32 reduces the airport’s flexibility in challenging wind and weather conditions. With snow still impacting the region and visibility fluctuating, air traffic controllers and airline dispatchers have had to juggle altered arrival and departure sequences, using the single available runway more intensively while keeping safety margins intact.
Continuing Flight Disruptions: What Travelers Are Seeing Today
As of Thursday, February 12, disruptions are still being felt across Halifax Stanfield and beyond. Travellers heading into or out of the airport are encountering a mixture of delays, schedule changes and outright cancellations, not only because of the runway incident but also because the same winter storm is affecting air travel more broadly in Atlantic Canada and other parts of the country.
Some flights into Halifax have been delayed while crews wait for updated runway condition reports or adjust to new sequencing using a single runway. Others have been cancelled altogether, particularly those scheduled for late on February 11 and early on February 12, when the combination of the disabled aircraft and deteriorating weather placed additional strain on an already stressed system. Certain flights bound for Halifax diverted to alternate airports, while others returned to their origin points.
Even as operations stabilize, the effects can ripple through the network for many hours. Aircraft and crew rotations have been disrupted, leaving airlines with fewer available planes in the right locations. Passengers connecting through Halifax on domestic or transatlantic itineraries may find that later segments are misaligned with their new arrival times, requiring rebooking and, in some cases, overnight stays.
Advice for Passengers Flying Through Halifax Now
With the situation in flux, passengers booked to travel to, from or through Halifax Stanfield over the next day or so should prepare for the possibility of ongoing disruption. Airlines, the airport authority and aviation agencies are all urging travellers to check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport, and to do so repeatedly, as schedules can change with little notice when weather and operational constraints collide.
Most carriers update their flight status tools in real time and may issue travel waivers or flexible rebooking options for those willing to shift their plans to a later date or time. In the aftermath of a runway excursion and in the middle of a significant snowstorm, many airlines show greater leniency in waiving change fees or fare differences, particularly on routes where options are limited.
Passengers heading to the airport should allow extra time for ground transportation as well. Road conditions across central Nova Scotia have been poor, with plows working continuously but struggling to keep pace with heavy snowfall in some districts. Icy on-ramps, reduced visibility and slow-moving traffic can significantly extend travel times between downtown Halifax, surrounding communities and the airport complex in Enfield, particularly during the morning and evening peaks.
Once at the terminal, travellers should expect longer lines at check-in and security as delayed flights converge and rebooked customers arrive alongside those already scheduled to depart. Comfortable clothing, essential medications in carry-on bags, phone chargers and basic snacks can make an extended wait at the gate much easier to handle, especially for families travelling with children or older relatives.
Investigations and Safety Oversight
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed that it is gathering information about the runway excursion and will assess whether a full investigation is warranted. At this early stage, officials have only said that the aircraft slid while exiting the runway and became stuck in snow, with no injuries and no reported damage. Detailed questions about aircraft systems, braking performance, crew decision-making and airport surface conditions will be explored in the days and weeks ahead.
Runway excursions can stem from a combination of factors, especially in winter climates. Reduced friction due to snow, ice or slush, higher than expected landing speeds, strong crosswinds and the challenge of judging exact braking performance all play a part. Modern jets and airports are equipped with sophisticated tools to mitigate such risks, including advanced anti-skid braking systems, friction testing vehicles and strict operating limits that dictate when runways must be closed for clearing.
Halifax Stanfield is no stranger to winter weather incidents, and its procedures have evolved over time to reflect lessons learned from previous runway events and near misses. The airport has invested in plows, sweepers, de-icing capabilities and enhanced weather monitoring to keep operations running safely during Atlantic storms. Even so, heavy snowfall can change conditions rapidly between inspections, and what begins as an acceptable braking surface can deteriorate quickly when snowfall intensity spikes, as it did on the night of February 11.
Halifax’s Winter Challenges for Air Travel
This latest incident highlights the persistent challenges that winter weather poses for aviation in Atlantic Canada. Halifax Stanfield serves as a major regional hub for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, linking smaller communities to larger national and international networks. Its location exposes it to frequent snow, freezing rain, gusty winds and low ceilings, particularly from late fall through early spring.
Snowstorms like the one that moved through the region this week can force airports to make a difficult trade-off between staying open to move people and goods, and closing runways more often for snow and ice control. Pilots, dispatchers and controllers regularly confront marginal conditions that require cautious judgement about when to land, when to divert, and when to hold or cancel flights entirely. The Porter incident underscores how quickly an otherwise uneventful landing can become a major operational problem when surfaces lose friction at the wrong moment.
For travellers, that means that winter itineraries to or from Halifax always carry a degree of uncertainty. Even with modern forecasting and decision-support tools, conditions can change in a matter of minutes. Weather that is safe but challenging can tip toward unsafe as visibility drops or snow begins sticking to the runway. Airline and airport professionals are trained to err on the side of caution, but that often translates into late-breaking changes that can frustrate passengers whose plans are time-sensitive.
What Happens Next for Halifax Stanfield and Porter Airlines
Over the coming hours, the immediate focus remains on safely removing the disabled Embraer from its snowy resting place beside Runway 14/32. That operation will be coordinated between Porter Airlines, Halifax Stanfield International Airport and contracted recovery specialists, with oversight from federal safety authorities. Only after the aircraft is clear and the runway inspected for damage will officials consider reopening 14/32 to traffic.
Once the airfield is fully restored, attention will shift more squarely to the safety review. The Transportation Safety Board’s assessment may lead to a short summary of findings or, if investigators deem the incident to have broader implications, a more detailed public report. Such reports typically address not only immediate triggers but also systemic issues such as crew training, aircraft systems, air traffic communications and airport winter maintenance practices.
For Porter Airlines, the incident is likely to prompt its own internal review of the flight, from the pre-departure planning in Toronto and the weather briefings received en route, to the decisions made in the cockpit during approach, landing and taxi. While the absence of injuries and significant damage will temper the operational fallout, any runway excursion is treated seriously by carriers looking to maintain high safety standards and public confidence.
In the short term, passengers can expect the airline to continue re-accommodating those affected by cancellations and missed connections linked to the Halifax disruptions. Travellers should monitor communication channels from Porter and other airlines serving Halifax for updates on schedule recovery, flexible travel options and any additional advisories related to the storm.