After a WestJet aircraft made a rough landing in St. Maarten, causing the closure of the island’s airport, aviation experts anticipate challenges in repairing the plane. Videos circulating on social media captured the WestJet Flight WS2276 from Toronto touching down roughly on its right landing gear at Princess Juliana International Airport. While the plane has been moved from the runway, it remains stationary at the airport awaiting repair work.
Keith Mackey, a former pilot and aviation expert, highlighted the potential difficulties in repairing the Boeing 737-800 due to limited local resources on the island. Mackey emphasized the need to assess the damage and weigh the cost-effectiveness of the repairs, likely involving importing parts and expertise from Canada.
The next step involves relocating the plane to a secure facility for a comprehensive evaluation to determine salvageability. If repair proves unfeasible, the aircraft may face scrapping. Doug Perovic, an engineering professor, emphasized that repairs go beyond fixing visible damage, requiring thorough inspection of the fuselage and structural components using advanced techniques like X-rays and ultrasounds.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada dispatched investigators to St. Maarten to investigate the landing incident. The investigation will focus on determining the cause of the crash and assessing the extent of the damage sustained by the aircraft. Flight data and cockpit recordings from the black boxes will aid investigators in understanding the sequence of events leading to the landing mishap.
Perovic noted that while the availability of critical data accelerates the investigation process, the black boxes will likely be analyzed in Canada due to the lack of specialized equipment on the island. Preliminary findings are expected in the coming weeks, with early assessments potentially impacting WestJet’s aircraft fleet operations.
Mackey, who has experience flying into the airport, mentioned that the plane’s approach seemed normal, suggesting a possible mechanical issue as the cause of the damage. WestJet assured cooperation with authorities and pledged updates as the investigation progresses. Despite the evacuation following the incident, no serious injuries were reported among the passengers on board.