WestJet Airlines confirmed that flight 2276 from Toronto to St. Maarten experienced a hard landing at Princess Juliana International Airport on Sunday afternoon, prompting an immediate emergency response and temporary closure of the runway.
The incident occurred at 17:29 UTC, with emergency crews deploying foam as a precaution. According to WestJet, the aircraft’s evacuation slides were activated and all passengers and crew were safely evacuated and transported to the terminal. The airline confirmed that everyone on board has been accounted for and that no injuries were reported.
“Emergency services responded immediately, deploying foam as a precaution. All guests and crew were safely evacuated and were transported to the terminal,” WestJet said in a statement. The airline added that it is cooperating fully with local authorities to determine the nature of the incident and is focused on supporting its passengers and staff.
The hard landing disrupted airport operations, leaving some travelers stranded. Toronto resident John Tzanetakis, who had spent 10 days in St. Maarten with his family, told CP24 that their scheduled return flight had been cancelled. “We’re going to try to find accommodations and hopefully they can rebook us maybe tomorrow,” he said, adding that WestJet had provided little direct information about the incident and that most updates were coming from social media.
Tzanetakis noted that passengers at the airport were “shocked, confused, and concerned” after hearing reports of the hard landing. While some social media users initially described the incident as a “crash,” authorities have not reported any structural damage beyond the hard landing itself.
WestJet said further details will be released once the investigation provides more clarity on what caused the incident.