AN Air Canada plane made an “abrupt” landing and skidded off the runway at the Halifax airport in bad weather, and officials said Sunday 25 people were taken to a hospital for observation and treatment of minor injuries.

    The airline said Flight AC624, an Airbus 320 that left Toronto late Saturday, had 133 passengers and five crew members.

    Air Canada said that 18 people who were taken to the hospital had been released. None of the injuries were considered life threatening, Air Canada said.

    Airport spokesman Peter Spurway said the aircraft touched down in stormy conditions at 12:25 a.m. Sunday.

    “It came down pretty hard and then skidded off the runway,” Spurway said. He said he didn’t know whether runway conditions played a role.

    The Halifax region was under a snowfall warning, with an Environment Canada alert saying, “Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow.”

    Passengers on board the plane said they believe the aircraft hit a power line as it came in to land and described the plane skidding on its belly for some time before it came to a stop. Power went off at the airport but officials didn’t confirm the cause.(SD-Agencies)