Jazz Aviation says ice likely damaged airplane's window

Jazz Aviation says the object that struck and damaged the outer window pane of Air Canada Express flight 8536 from Charlottetown to Montreal on Friday appears to have been ice.

"Our maintenance personnel investigated and it appears to have been ice that caused damage to the outer window pane," said Teri Udle, manager of corporate communications and brand management for Jazz Aviation LP, in a statement sent to the CBC on Tuesday.

"The aircraft was a Q400 and is designed with a protective ice shield on the side of the aircraft to prevent damage to the fuselage of the aircraft. The window affected is designed with the same structural integrity and, therefore, limited the damage to the outer pane."

'A rare occurrence'

Udle added that the incident "is a rare occurrence. Thesafety of our passengers and crew is our utmost priority."

David Smith, an Islander on that flight with his daughter, told CBC that while in the air, he heard a loud bang. He lifted the window blind in time to see an object strike and damage his window.

Smith said the object looked like a piece of ice.

"It was really quite surprising, shocking, and really, really unnerving having that happen with my daughter sitting beside me like that," said Smith on Friday. "I've flown a heck of a lot and I've never seen anything like that in my life."

Jazz Aviation operates under the banner of Air Canada Express as a contract carrier.

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