Under the cover of darkness, Air Canada’s Airbus 320 was removed from the tarmac at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

A significant operation, the crane operator says it took 10 hours.

With the plane no longer blocking the runway, many are asking what comes next.

“It may be available to us in the not-too-distant future,” says Airport Authority spokesperson, Peter Spurway.

Airport Authorities are assessing the condition of the runway.

They say they may regain some use of it before Nav Canada repairs the antenna array knocked out by AC Flight 624.

The navigational aids are not needed for every flight.

“If you’re coming from the other direction,” explains Spurway, “and it’s a clear beautiful sunny day like today, and the visibility is very good, and the wind is in a nice cooperative direction, and it’s not too strong at all, then we can use it then.”

Flights were coming and going without delay at the airport on Wednesday.

“So far it’s been awesome,” says traveler Charlene Colborne. “No wait, we just came right through. I have no complaints.”

While things are running smoothly right now, airport officials say there could still be disruptions over the next few weeks.

Some flights could be diverted because one, or both, runways may not be available during specific weather conditions.

“Now if the wind shifts around and creates a cross wind, a strong cross wind on that secondary runway or visibility comes an issue than we could encounter some flight disruptions,” explains Spurway.

Most luggage has also been returned to passengers who were on the flight.

However, as operations continue, there remain many questions.

One aviation safety consultant, with 40 years in the industry, says for him the number one question is, why did the plane touch down short of the runway?

“There are all kinds of reasons,” says Mike Doiron. “It could be anything from equipment issues, it could be human performance issues, and it could be visual illusions.”

All things, no doubt, being considered in the Transportation Safety Board’s investigation.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell.