Aircraft WestJet Flight WS2276 experiences landing gear malfunction upon arrival at St. Maarten.
WestJet Flight Experiences Hard Landing at Princess Juliana International Airport
On Sunday, a WestJet Boeing 737-800, flying from Toronto to St. Maarten, experienced a hard landing at the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM).
Following the incident, an investigation has been launched by the Sint Maarten Civil Aviation Authority, WestJet, and Boeing to determine the cause of the gear failure. The flight crew was able to keep the aircraft on the runway and bring it to a halt. While no serious injuries were reported, three individuals were taken for medical evaluation.
Flight WS2276, carrying 164 people, touched down at approximately 1.30pm local time. As a result, the runway at the airport was temporarily closed for safety reasons.
Travelers with flights to or from St. Maarten are advised to contact their airline directly for the most up-to-date information on flight changes. Airport authorities are working with local contractors to safely remove the aircraft.
WestJet has confirmed the incident in a statement, emphasizing the safety of passengers and crew as their top priority. Emergency services at the airport responded immediately, rushing to the scene to spray fire-retardant foam as a precaution. The runway has since reopened, and normal operations are resuming.
It is important to note that there are no publicly available and current information about who initiated an investigation into the luggage compartment issue mentioned in a previous question. In such cases, the flight operator and airport operator are typically the first points of contact for complaints regarding luggage problems. They document the incident, conduct an internal investigation, and inform the relevant authorities if there is suspicion of criminal activity.
For passengers who were on the affected flight or require detailed information, a direct contact with WestJet Customer Service and/or the Passenger Terminal at the Princess Juliana International Airport is recommended. They can also use the airport's feedback channel to receive an official response.
As always, the safety of passengers and crew is a top priority for WestJet, and they are committed to providing regular updates on the ongoing investigation.
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