No injuries reported after WestJet flight from Toronto makes hard landing in Sint Maarten

Emergency crews were mobilized as a WestJet flight from Toronto to St. Maarten made a hard landing, shutting down Princess Juliana International Airport.

No injuries have been reported after a WestJet flight from Toronto to Sint Maarten made a hard landing on Sunday.

The airline posted a statement about the incident on its website.

“WestJet flight 2276, operating from Toronto, experienced a hard landing upon arrival at Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) at 17:29 UTC today,” it said.

“Emergency services responded immediately, deploying foam as a precaution.

WestJet said the aircraft’s slides were activated and all guests and crew were “safely evacuated and were transported to the terminal.”

“All guests are accounted for and there are no reported injuries,” the airline said, adding they’re awaiting confirmation of the exact nature of the incident and are focused on supporting guests and crew.

WestJet noted they’re cooperating with local authorities and would on provide an update on the situation when more information becomes available.

Toronto residents stranded in St. Maarten

After 10 days in Sint Maarten, Toronto resident John Tzanetakis, his wife, and eldest daughter were scheduled to fly home this evening on a WestJet flight.

He said he’d come to the island nation to drop off his other daughter at medical school.

Speaking with CP24 from Princess Juliana International Airport late Sunday afternoon, Tzanetakis said after about three hours of waiting they’re now in the process of being “escorted out” and have been advised by text message by the airline that their flight has been cancelled.

“We’re going to try to find accommodations and hopefully they can rebook us maybe tomorrow,” he said.

“(WestJet is) not really giving us much information,” he said, adding they haven’t seen any of the passengers who were on the affected flight.

“The people here are very friendly and nice, so not to blame the people who work here, but WestJet hasn’t provided much information.”

Tzanetkis said the airline hasn’t provided any details about the emergency landing, that what they’re learned about the incident has been via social media.

“Right now, as I speak, they haven’t told us there was anything, an accident (or anything like that. They just told us the runway is closed. That’s it,” he said, adding that even the aircraft in question is blocked from their view.

Tzanatakis said “everyone” at the airport is feeling shocked, confused, and concerned for those on the plane that made the hard landing.

Some social media posts circulated Sunday afternoon describing the incident as a “crash.”