WestJet flight 2276, a Boeing 737-800 en route from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten, experienced a hard landing that resulted in the collapse of its right main landing gear.
The aircraft touched down at approximately 1:31 p.m. local time. Upon landing, the plane’s right landing gear failed, causing it to skid along the runway.
Emergency services responded promptly, spraying foam around the aircraft as a precaution, though no fire was reported.
The aircraft’s right wing sustained damage due to contact with the runway .
All 164 passengers and crew members aboard were safely evacuated using emergency slides. While there were no injuries, three individuals were taken to the hospital for precautionary medical evaluations .
The incident led to the temporary closure of Princess Juliana International Airport, which has a single runway. Inbound and outbound flights were affected, with some diverted to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Airport authorities, along with emergency crews, worked to safely remove the aircraft and clear the runway for resumption of operations .
WestJet has stated that it is fully cooperating with local authorities and is awaiting confirmation on the exact nature of the incident.
The airline expressed relief that all passengers and crew are safe and commended the swift response of emergency services .
The cause of the landing gear collapse is under investigation, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes
available.