The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has initiated an inquiry following a challenging landing incident involving a WestJet flight from Toronto at St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport on Sunday. Passengers and crew were evacuated from WestJet Flight 2276 after the aircraft made contact with the runway, causing billowing smoke, as shown in video footage of the event.
WestJet confirmed that all individuals on board were safely evacuated, with no injuries reported. The airline did not disclose further details when contacted on Monday. The TSB announced its plan to dispatch investigators to St. Maarten to gather pertinent information on the incident.
While the airport assured that the plane did not catch fire and there were no injuries, three individuals were taken for precautionary medical evaluation. Jacco Steffens, a St. Maarten-based livestreamer and former airplane mechanic, expressed astonishment at the disruptive landing, labeling it unlike anything he had witnessed before at the iconic Caribbean airport.
Steffens recounted the moment he noticed abnormalities during the WestJet landing, highlighting the aircraft’s rough touchdown and subsequent smoke. An archived livestream captured by Steffens’ webcam showcased the plane’s low approach over the waters before the challenging landing.
Steffens speculated that the incident went beyond a mere tire issue, noting the engine’s contact with the ground. The TSB’s investigation will aim to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the hard landing in St. Maarten.