שרעקעדיגע מאמענטן ווען א וועסט טשעט פליגער האט געמאכט א שווערע לאנדונג אין טאראנטו ב"ה אהן קיין פארוואונדעטע
A terrifying scene unfolded Sunday at Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten when a WestJet Boeing 737-8 (C-GWSR) suffered a hard landing, causing its right main landing gear to collapse.
The flight, arriving from Toronto with 164 passengers on board, skidded down the runway before coming to a halt. Fire crews rushed in, spraying the right wing and fuselage with foam as a precaution.
Passengers evacuated via emergency slides after the pilot issued a “Mayday” call during the landing. According to airport officials, three people were taken for medical evaluation, though no serious injuries were reported.
The incident damaged one of the aircraft’s wings and led to a temporary suspension of all air traffic at the busy Caribbean hub, known for its dramatic beachside approaches.
An investigation is now underway to determine the cause of the hard landing.