On September 7, 2025, a WestJet Boeing 737 suffered a landing gear collapse while landing at Sint Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), prompting an emergency evacuation of the aircraft.
The Boeing 737-800 with registration C-GWSR was operating flight WS2276 from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to Sint Maarten. After 4 hours and 46 minutes of flight, it touched down on runway 10 at 13:28 local time (17:28 UTC) when the right main landing gear collapsed.
According to reports, the crew managed to keep the aircraft aligned on the runway and brought it to a complete stop, resting on its nose gear, left main gear, and the right engine nacelle.
Evacuation
Emergency slides were deployed, and all passengers and crew evacuated safely. No injuries were reported among those on board.
Moreover, the emergency services responded quickly, applying foam around the aircraft as a precaution. Video footage shows passengers using the slides to evacuate the aircraft, with fire and rescue vehicles positioned nearby.
“WestJet flight 2276, operating from Toronto, experienced a hard landing upon arrival at Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). The aircraft’s slides were activated, and all guests and crew safely evacuated and were transported to the terminal. All guests are accounted for and there are no reported injuries.
At this time, we are awaiting confirmation on the exact nature of the incident. Our teams are focused on supporting our guests and crew, ensuring their safety and care remain our highest priority.”
Runway Closure, Flight Disruptions
The runway has been closed following the incident, causing multiple flight cancellations and diversions. Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta and a JetBlue flight from New York-JFK were diverted to San Juan.
Moreover, multiple return flights including KLM flight KL777 to Port of Spain and American Airlines flight AA456 to Miami have been delayed.
The cause of the gear collapse is not yet known. WestJet stated it is fully cooperating with local authorities in the investigation.
Featured Image via Fahad Naim