A WestJet Boeing 737-800 carrying 164 passengers and crew had a serious landing problem at Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten on Sunday, 7 September, 2025.
WestJet flight from Toronto in hard landing incident
The plane, operating as flight WS2276 from Toronto Pearson International Airport, struck the runway hard at 13:31 PM local time (19:31 PM SAST), which caused the right-hand landing gear to collapse.
According to eyewitnesses and official statements, the impact also damaged the aircraft’s right engine and wing, leading to sparks and smoke as the plane skidded along the runway.
Emergency teams quickly responded, spraying fire-retarding foam and assisting with evacuation.
All onboard were safely removed using emergency slides, and no injuries were reported, though three passengers were checked by medical teams out of precaution.
The Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company (PJIAE) confirmed in a statement that the aircraft’s wing was damaged during the landing.
“We are relieved to confirm that all passengers and crew safely disembarked, as their safety and well-being remain our highest priority,” the airport said.
Following the incident, PJIAE closed the airport to all flights until at least 19:00 PM local time (01:00 AM SAST on 8 September 2025).
Inbound flights were diverted to other airports, including San Juan, Puerto Rico, while departures were delayed or cancelled. Contractors were deployed to remove the disabled WestJet aircraft and inspect the runway before reopening operations.
What caused the landing gear to collapse?
The Sint Maarten Civil Aviation Authority, working with WestJet and Boeing, has opened an investigation to find out why the right-hand landing gear failed. Investigators will study the flight data recorders, maintenance records, and pilot actions during the landing.
Weather conditions at the time were reported as clear, so environmental factors are not thought to have played a role.
Eyewitnesses such as plane spotter Paul Ellinger described the approach as appearing “normal but slightly high” before the landing gear collapsed. No official cause has been determined.
Why Sint Maarten is a challenging airport
Princess Juliana International Airport is famous worldwide for its approach over Maho Beach, where planes fly very low over beachgoers before reaching the runway.
While it is popular with aviation enthusiasts, the short runway and close proximity to the shoreline make landings more demanding than at most airports.
WestJet confirmed the hard landing in a public statement, saying all passengers and crew were safely evacuated and that it is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation.
The airline and PJIAE advised travellers to check their official websites for flight status updates as delays and cancellations continued through Sunday evening.
