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Princess Juliana Airport Resumes Operations Following Runway Incident
Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side of Sint Maarten has resumed normal operations after a 24-hour closure caused by a hard landing incident involving a WestJet Boeing 737. The airport, which serves as a critical transportation hub for the Caribbean region, was forced to suspend all flights after the Canadian airline's aircraft experienced landing gear failure during arrival.
Emergency Landing and Evacuation
The incident occurred when WestJet Flight 2701 from Toronto experienced a hard landing that caused the right main landing gear to collapse. Witnesses reported seeing significant smoke during the braking process, though no fire broke out. All 189 passengers and crew members were safely evacuated using emergency slides.
'The evacuation was conducted professionally and efficiently. We're grateful there were no injuries reported,' stated airport director Brian Mingo.
Single Runway Challenge
The airport's single-runway configuration presented significant operational challenges. With the disabled aircraft blocking the only runway, all incoming flights were diverted to neighboring islands including Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and Antigua. Departing flights were similarly affected, stranding hundreds of travelers.
Recovery teams worked through the night to remove the damaged Boeing 737, which sustained substantial damage to its right wing and landing gear. The aircraft had to be carefully towed from the runway to a remote parking area for further inspection.
Regional Impact
Princess Juliana International Airport serves as the primary gateway to the northeastern Caribbean, connecting travelers to smaller islands including Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Sint Eustatius. The 24-hour closure disrupted regional travel networks and affected tourism operations across multiple islands.
'This incident highlights the vulnerability of our regional aviation infrastructure. We need to consider contingency plans for such events,' commented Caribbean Tourism Organization representative Sarah Johnson.
The runway has been thoroughly inspected and declared safe for operations. Airport authorities have implemented additional safety checks and are working with airlines to clear the backlog of delayed flights.
