September 08, 2025
By JamRadio Caribbean Newsdesk
Princess Juliana International Airport was plunged into emergency mode on Sunday afternoon as WestJet Flight WS2276 from Toronto suffered a dramatic crash landing on Runway 10. The Boeing 737-800 touched down hard on its right landing gear, which collapsed on impact, sending the aircraft skidding across the tarmac with its right engine scraping the pavement and trailing smoke.
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Eyewitness footage from Maho Beach captured the terrifying moment as the jet’s wing dipped low, possibly caught in a crosswind, before the gear gave way. The pilot’s calm but urgent radio to air traffic control—“We’re stopping on the runway. Send fire and rescue”—underscored the gravity of the situation.
The terrifying moment a WestJet Boeing 737-800 crash landed in St. Maarten on Sunday afternoon after what appers to be a landing gear failure.
— Jam Radio UK News (@Jam_RadioUK) September 8, 2025
See full story in comments pic.twitter.com/BP5v9shcZQ
Emergency crews responded within minutes, dousing the aircraft in fire-retardant foam while passengers evacuated via inflatable slides. All 164 people onboard survived, with only three taken to hospital out of caution.
The airport remains closed as heavy machinery works to remove the disabled aircraft. Flights have been diverted to San Juan, Puerto Rico and several outbound services—including JetBlue and KLM—are grounded until the runway is cleared and inspected.
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WestJet has praised its crew for their professionalism and pledged full cooperation with investigators. The Sint Maarten Civil Aviation Authority has launched a formal inquiry, with support expected from Boeing and Canadian regulators.
JamRadio will continue to monitor the situation and bring you updates as they unfold. For now, the Caribbean breathes a sigh of relief—and asks hard questions about runway safety, crosswind conditions, and aging aircraft.
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