WestJet has launched a new local repair operation on the aircraft. This aircraft had a hard landing at Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten. Read more On September 7, 2025, an Air Canada flight from Toronto nearly crashed. The aircraft made first contact entirely on its right landing gear. The very rare circumstance of such a heavy landing led to questions about the aircraft’s structural integrity, leading to an overabundance of caution from the airline.
Read the original story of the incident written by Vanessa Tiberio for The Canadian Press. Tiberio determined that the hard landing resulted in no passenger or crew injuries. That wasn’t a completely atypical incident, it absolutely did need a massive amount of repair to be sure no harm ever flew back on their aircraft. The update regarding the repair status was issued on September 16, 2025, at 2:01 PM.
All of these experts have warned that the years-long repair process will be a complex and difficult one. Further, they highlighted that specialized components needed to fix the aircraft would most likely require shipping. We anticipate these pieces will come from Canada to St. Maarten. He said highly skilled workers will need to be transported to the island from the world over for certain repairs. This newly added layer of logistical complexity to the operation.
The scenario highlights the operational challenges airlines could experience when an incident impacts international airports. WestJet is encountering further technical challenges as it continues efforts to repair a damaged aircraft. Meanwhile, the airline needs to clear logistical challenges to purchase parts and move personnel from abroad.
