WestJet Plane in Sint Maarten: Repair Likely a Very Difficult Project

(SINT MAARTEN) A WestJet plane suffered a hard landing at Princess Juliana International Airport on September 7, 2025, triggering a full emergency response, a 24-hour airport shutdown, and a complex recovery effort that experts say could take months.

Flight WS2276 from Toronto touched down at 17:29 UTC, and the right main landing gear collapsed, forcing the right wingtip to strike the runway. Slides deployed and all 164 passengers and crew evacuated safely. No injuries were reported, though three passengers underwent precautionary medical checks. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, remains grounded at the edge of the field, visibly damaged and awaiting a deep technical assessment.

Airport officials confirmed that Princess Juliana International Airport closed for more than a day while teams stabilized the scene and cleared the runway. Services resumed by September 9, though some disruptions continued as the recovery area remained active. The closure rippled through the region, affecting both commercial and cargo flights and hitting tourism-dependent businesses that rely on regular lift in and out of Sint Maarten.

What happened and current status

The airline said safety was the top priority and promised updates as the inquiry moves forward. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) sent investigators to Sint Maarten. A preliminary TSB report is expected by late September 2025, based on flight data and cockpit voice recordings.

WestJet says it is working with local and Canadian authorities and is reviewing the aircraft’s condition with Boeing technical teams.

Experts describe a difficult road ahead. The WestJet 737 shows major damage to the right landing gear and right wing, and it cannot fly in its current state. Keith Mackey, a former pilot and industry consultant, called the job of moving and fixing a modern jetliner on an island with limited heavy-maintenance capacity “extremely challenging.”

The airport has only modest facilities for large structural work. Specialized jacks, custom tooling, and replacement parts may need to be flown in—or shipped by sea—which adds time and cost.

Likely recovery options

Two paths are likely:

1. Temporary structural and systems repairs to make the aircraft “ferryable” — safe for a one-time, empty flight to a major maintenance base.
2. Disassembly on-site and shipment to a repair facility, or, if damage proves too deep, a decision to “write off” the airframe.

The immediate first step is to move the jet to a secure stand for a detailed survey. Structural engineers will inspect load-paths where the gear attaches to the wing box. If primary structures are bent, cracked, or torn, on-island repair becomes far less practical.

Insurers and WestJet’s technical operations team are already weighing costs that could reach millions of dollars, factoring in transport, parts, labor, and lost use of the aircraft.

Princess Juliana International Airport’s management said its priority is safe operations and steady restoration of schedules. Given the airport’s short runway and famous approach over Maho Beach, the incident is expected to prompt a careful review of landing techniques and wind criteria. Local weather—especially gusty or shifting winds near touchdown—will be part of the analysis.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, events like this at island airports often require international coordination, including manufacturer support, specialty recovery crews, and round-the-clock logistics. Even with smooth coordination, the timeline can stretch, delaying a final resolution for weeks or months.

Important: recovery at island airports often involves long lead times for parts, specialized tooling, and heavy-lift equipment. Expect costs and timelines to escalate if components must be shipped.

Impact on travelers and immediate next steps

For passengers, the most pressing issues have been delays, rebooking challenges, and limited outbound seats once the airport reopened. Many travelers reported long waits and poor communication about accommodation, meal vouchers, and replacement flights. While the evacuation worked as trained, the aftermath left people stuck far from home, facing extra costs and uncertainty.

Practical tips for affected travelers:

• Keep all travel records, boarding passes, and receipts for extra costs (hotels, meals).
• Ask the airline for written confirmation of the disruption and reasons for delay.
• Check travel insurance policies for coverage of trip interruption and extra expenses.
• Stay flexible with routing; seats via nearby hubs may open before direct flights.
• If you have time-sensitive immigration concerns (visa validity, return deadlines), document the disruption and keep proof of airline and airport notices.

For residents, workers, and students who depend on regular connections through Sint Maarten, the airport closure and reduced capacity strained plans. Employers with staff on rotational schedules saw knock-on effects as duty changes, medical appointments, and supply chains shifted. Airlines serving Sint Maarten are reviewing procedures at the airport, including stabilizing approach speeds and go-around decision points during gusty conditions.

What investigators and regulators will examine

Regulators and safety teams will study several factors:

• Touchdown point, sink rate, and pitch at landing
• Crosswind and gust conditions near the runway threshold
• Gear loads and structural response during the hard landing
• Crew workload and decision-making in the final approach

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has the lead on the investigation. The agency expects to publish early findings that will explain what data shows so far, though full conclusions often take longer. For official updates about the investigation process and safety communications, readers can consult the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

From a policy standpoint, airports like Princess Juliana International Airport—short runway, water on one end, terrain on the other—often refine operating minima, wind limits, and go-around triggers after such events. Airlines may add simulator sessions focused on SXM profiles, especially handling sudden wind shifts and abnormal gear indications after touchdown.

Typical recovery sequence for the aircraft

Recovery work on the WestJet plane is likely to follow a careful sequence:

1. Stabilize the airframe and secure the site.
2. Conduct non-destructive tests on the wing and gear attachment points.
3. Decide on temporary repair or disassembly.
4. Bring in specialized equipment and parts.
5. If a ferry flight is approved, set strict limitations (no passengers, reduced weight, alternate airport planning).

The airport authority said it is coordinating closely with the airline to reduce operational impact. Each day the aircraft sits on the field adds cost and pressure on stand space and ground handling. However, rushing the job risks further damage and safety issues.

Broader context and what to expect

For the public, images of the hard landing at Princess Juliana International Airport may raise questions about flying into short-runway airports. Aviation safety data show that while these approaches require skill and training, major incidents involving large commercial jets are rare at SXM. Industry veterans note that strong crew training, modern avionics, and strict dispatch rules help keep risk low, even at challenging fields.

WestJet has not announced a timeline for returning the damaged aircraft to service or deciding its fate. The airline’s fleet team will weigh parts availability, repair man-hours, and market capacity needs heading into the peak travel period. If the aircraft cannot be efficiently fixed on the island, a controlled disassembly and shipment could follow.

Passengers with open tickets tied to the canceled flight should:

• Stay in touch with the airline and keep records of added expenses
• Request documentation from the airline and local authorities for medical follow-up or insurance claims
• Seek written proof of cause and duration of the disruption for compensation claims where applicable

Investigators will focus on why the hard landing occurred and how the gear failed under load. The industry will watch closely for any interim safety recommendations, especially around approach stability, wind thresholds, and landing technique at Princess Juliana International Airport.