Repairing a WestJet aircraft that made a rough landing in St. Maarten and caused the closure of the island’s airport presents a significant challenge, according to aviation experts. Videos capturing WestJet Flight WS2276 from Toronto descending towards Maho Beach before landing heavily on its right landing gear have circulated widely on social media. The Boeing 737-800 plane, which was removed from the runway area it came to a halt on, now sits idle on the airport tarmac awaiting necessary repairs.
Aviation expert Keith Mackey noted that the task of repairing the aircraft on the remote island, located about 300 kilometers east of Puerto Rico, may be complicated due to limited resources and expertise locally. Mackey emphasized that materials and skilled personnel would likely need to be brought in from Canada, urging a careful assessment of the damage versus the cost-effectiveness of repairs.
The next step involves relocating the plane to a secure facility shielded from environmental elements for a thorough evaluation to determine if salvaging is possible. If repairing the aircraft proves unfeasible, it may have to be decommissioned. Engineering professor Doug Perovic highlighted that repairs extend beyond fixing impact-damaged parts and resetting inflatable slides, requiring detailed inspections for any structural damage using advanced non-destructive evaluation methods like X-rays and ultrasounds.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada dispatched investigators to St. Maarten to probe the circumstances surrounding the landing incident and assess the extent of the aircraft’s damage. By analyzing flight data and cockpit recordings from the plane’s black boxes, investigators aim to ascertain the cause of the crash swiftly. While the investigation benefits from the availability of crucial data, the black boxes will likely be transported to Canada for thorough analysis due to inadequate equipment on the island.
Perovic mentioned that preliminary findings from the black boxes would be released in the upcoming weeks, with early assessments determining any potential fleet-wide implications for WestJet. A comprehensive report by the safety board detailing the incident may take up to a year to complete. Despite the lack of new updates from WestJet since the incident, the airline assures cooperation with authorities and pledges to provide further information as it becomes available.
Fortunately, all 164 passengers on board the WestJet flight escaped serious injuries, with only three individuals undergoing medical assessments post-evacuation.