WestJet Airlines, one of our TPP partners, is currently managing a developing incident with flight WS2276. This incident involved a very hard landing at Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten, on Sunday morning September 8, 2025. The non-revenue aircraft had 160 passengers and crew members on board as it arrived from Toronto. That hard landing occurred around 1 p.m. ET.
After the incident, WestJet began a recovery effort to remove the plane from the runway in a safe manner. The airline expects to have the aircraft released by this afternoon, and when that happens, the airport’s operations can return to normal. The incident spurred a swift release of a subsequent statement by the airport. Importantly, they described the rapid responses that were enacted during the crisis.
Once all passengers and crew were evacuated from the aircraft, emergency responders transported three people to a hospital for evaluation. Their safety was the primary concern while making this dangerous move. In spite of the difficult and dangerous situation, the abandonment was carried out smoothly, and all aboard escaped with their lives.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has already announced a full investigation into flight WS2276. Their goal is to return home with specific information about what caused the hard landing. This joint, ongoing investigation aims to bring to light the events of this tragedy. Specifically, it will determine what went wrong when the flight was approaching and landing.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the unusual hard landing. For each incident, they will assess common issues such as potential operational protocols and environmental conditions during the crash. What they find will offer new information that will help make future flights safer.
At this point, WestJet hopes to work collaboratively with local authorities and the transportation safety board to serve the investigation in incident. In the wake of this tragic incident, the company has again reiterated their commitment to passenger safety and promised transparency, assuring public disclosure as more information becomes known.
