A WestJet flight that left from É«É«À² made a “hard landing” upon arrival in St. Maarten on Sunday, the airline said.
Though the details of the incident haven’t been confirmed, the airline said the slides and foam were deployed.
BREAKING: CHAOS IN THE CARIBBEAN! WestJet Boeing 737 Crash-Lands at St. Maarten!
Heart-pounding moments just minutes ago at St. Maarten as WestJet Flight WS2276, a Boeing 737-8 (C-GWSR), endured a catastrophic hard landing from É«É«À² (YYZ). The impact was so severe it caused…
— aircraftmaintenancengineer (@airmainengineer)
“Our teams are focused on supporting our guests and crew, ensuring their safety and care remain our highest priority,” WestJet said . “WestJet is fully cooperating with local authorities and will provide additional updates as more information is available.”
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
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Almost 165 passengers and crew members were evacuated from the aircraft and no injuries were reported, Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) said. Three people were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, they added.Â
WestJet flight 2276 arrived at PJIA, which is known for its close proximity to a popular beach where tourists can watch planes come in, just after 1:30 p.m. local time.
Videos shared online of the plane’s landing and the aftermath appear to show smoke and the plane skidding down the runway, people evacuating using the emergency slides and .
Statement from Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE)
Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V. (PJIAE) is aware of an incident involving a WestJet aircraft earlier today, in which one of the wings sustained damage.
We are relieved to confirm that…
— 721News.com (@721News)
During the landing, the plane’s right wing was damaged, and it needed to be removed from the runway, PJIA said.Â
The airport said it will be re-open at noon local time on Monday as they work to remove the plane from the runway. Passengers are advised to contact WestJet directly for updates about their flights.
Anastasia Blosser is a breaking news reporter, working out of
the Star’s radio room in É«É«À². Reach her via email: ablosser@thestar.ca
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