Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten experienced a significant incident on Sunday, September 7, 2025, when WestJet Flight 2276 from Toronto, Canada, executed a hard landing. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, carrying 164 passengers and crew, encountered trouble upon touchdown, leading to a dramatic scene with smoke billowing from the rear of the plane. Fortunately, all individuals on board were safely evacuated using emergency slides, and no serious injuries were reported.
The incident occurred around 1:30 PM local time. Video footage captured the moment the aircraft made forceful contact with the runway, appearing to bounce before coming to a stop. Audio from the flight indicated the pilot declared a “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” and announced an evacuation. Emergency services were promptly on the scene, deploying foam around the aircraft as a precautionary measure, though no fire erupted.
While the evacuation was successful and no injuries were sustained, three individuals were taken for medical evaluation as a precaution. The hard landing resulted in damage to the aircraft’s right wing, and the right main landing gear reportedly collapsed. Princess Juliana International Airport was temporarily closed to allow for the removal of the aircraft from the runway and to ensure the safety of ongoing operations.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has launched an investigation into the incident and dispatched a team to St. Maarten to gather more information. WestJet has stated that they are fully cooperating with local authorities. The airline emphasized that the safety and care of their guests and crew remain their highest priority and that they are providing support to those affected.
Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Dr. Luc Mercelina, expressed gratitude for the safe evacuation of all passengers and crew. He reiterated the commitment to the safety and security of travelers and aviation personnel. While the airport has since resumed operations, the investigation into the exact cause of the hard landing and landing gear failure is ongoing.
