Federal safety officials are investigating an emergency incident at Vancouver International Airport after a WestJet aircraft arriving from Tampa, Florida, was evacuated late Saturday night due to a small engine fire.
The fire broke out in the tailpipe area of one of the engines just as the aircraft was shutting down at the gate, according to WestJet spokesperson Julia Kaiser. Around 50 passengers were still on board when inflatable emergency slides were deployed as a precautionary measure. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Airport spokesperson Chloe Reynaud confirmed that emergency responders were quickly dispatched to the scene, but noted that the aircraft’s built-in fire suppression systems had already extinguished the flames before fire crews arrived.
The aircraft was towed for maintenance and is currently undergoing inspection and repairs. Airport operations continued uninterrupted, with no delays or disruptions to other flights reported.
WestJet staff, emergency services, and airport personnel collaborated to assist passengers, reunite them with their luggage, and provide further support as needed.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has launched a formal investigation into the cause of the fire, following standard safety protocol.